Srinagar, April 25, 2008 - Kashmir cable operators' association on Thursday decided to black out national and international channels, a day after Jammu and Kashmir government banned airing of Pakistani and local "unauthorised" news channels in the state.

"We have stopped airing all national and international channels in the Valley as a mark of protest to the Wednesday's ban on local and Pakistani channels," a cable operator said. In defiance to the Wednesday's ban, unauthorised local channels, however, continued their transmission with a scroll explaining the black out.

J&K police said it has nothing to say about the violation of the ban and passed the buck to the Srinagar district magistrate. "Since the magistrate ordered the ban, it's for him to implement it," Kashmir range IGP S M Sahai said.

District magistrate Sheikh Ajaz Iqbal, while ruling out action against the cable operators, said the people should act against them and stop paying the monthly subscription.

Reacting to the ban People's Democratic Party president Mahbooba Mufti said: "The order is biased and unfortunate. Nowhere in the country has I&B ministry banned Pakistani channels." She said chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad should take up the issue with the Centre and get the ban revoked.