DC: No restriction on picking, distribution of newspapers

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 29

Newspaper vendors and hawkers are finding it difficult to reach picking points in some of the areas due to curfew restrictions despite Deputy Commissioner’s orders of relaxation. The district administration had allowed the movement of vendors from 6 am to 9 am on the first day of imposition of curfew.

Vendors claimed that the cops on duty don’t allow them to reach at picking points. In case they manage to reach at a picking point, the police do not allow the distribution of papers in various areas of the city.

Ravi, a newspaper hawker, said: “It seems the cops are not aware of the district administration’s directions. Sometimes they do allow us to go to picking points, but most of the time they deny. They suggest some other way to cross the road.”

Vendors claimed that three hours were not sufficient to distribute all copies, especially in the outskirts. “The administration should extend the time limit from 3 hours to 5 hours. We need time for the collection of payment too,” said Harjinder Singh, another vendor.

Deputy Commissioner Shivdullar Singh said: “There is no restriction on the distribution of newspapers. I have directed the police to not stop newspaper hawkers at any point during the curfew.”

The district administration officials said newspapers were the only authentic source of news. They said it should reach every household so that people can verify news or guard against rumours received through social media applications.