News channel to get show cause notice for coverage of Pathankot terror attack

The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry is reportedly planning to send a show cause notice to Hindi news channel NDTV India for allegedly giving out sensitive details during its coverage of the Pathankot terror attack earlier this month. 

The channel had allegedly broadcast sensitive information during anti-terror operations after six terrorists stormed the Pathankot Air Force Base on 2 January, thus "prima facie" violating norms.

"It has come to the ministry's notice that when the operation was on, the correspondent of the channel gave details and locations of sensitive spots in the airbase. Telecast of such strategically sensitive information could affect the operations and could even cause damage," an official told the Press Trust of India. 

"The ministry has decided to issue a show cause notice to NDTV India," the official added. 

NDTV gave out sensitive information even when two of the terrorists were alive and also mentioned facilities such as a fuel tank, as per the report.

The I&B Ministry has urged Indian news channels to show restraint while covering terror attacks, especially during live anti-terror operations.

Some sections of the Indian media had come under criticism over the coverage of the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.