Modi govt sends notice to BBC for calling J&K attackers 'militants'; blocks 16 Pak YouTube channels

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government has conveyed its “strong sentiments” to the BBC over its coverage of the Pahalgam terror attack and its description of terrorists as “militants”.

It also blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including Dawn News and Geo News, accusing them of disseminating “provocative and communally sensitive” content as well as “false and misleading” narratives against India and its Army.

A senior official said on Monday that a formal letter has been sent to the BBC India head Jackie Martin by the Ministry of External Affairs conveying the country's “strong sentiments” regarding the reporting of the April 22 terror strike in which 26 people were killed.

“A formal letter has been sent to the BBC on the terming of terrorists as militants. The External Publicity Division of the MEA will be monitoring the reporting of the BBC,” the official said.

The action came after a social media post by a former editor, Sandipan Deb, who shared the screenshot of a BBC web report and claimed, "BBC makes it sound like India killed Pakistani tourists in Pahalgam! How much lower can they fall?"

Separately, 16 Pakistani YouTube channels were blocked on the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The total subscribers for these 16 YouTube channels are 63.08 million.

The YouTube channels that have been blocked are: Dawn News, Irshad Bhatti, SAMAA TV, ARY NEWS, BOL NEWS, Raftar, The Pakistan Reference, Geo News, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, SUNO News, and Razi Naama.

"On the recommendations of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Government of India has banned Pakistani YouTube channels for disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India, its Army and security agencies in the backdrop of the tragic Pahalgam terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir," officials said.

Last Saturday, the Government asked media platforms not to provide live coverage or “source-based” reports on ongoing anti-terror operations “in the interest of national security”, saying premature disclosure “may inadvertently assist hostile elements”.

Army sources also had raised concerns, saying certain media houses have conducted discussions touching upon specific military aspects, including dispositions, unit formations’ names, tactics, military options, and terrain analysis.