New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting imposed ban of 48 hours against two Malayalam news channels on Friday, effective from 7.30 pm onwards.

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry issued orders on late Friday. In its orders the Ministry said that Asiannet News and Media One TV had violated provisions of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994, by broadcasting reports on February 25 that ‘highlighted the attack on places of worship and siding towards a particular community’.

The Ministry said that as per the rules”No programme should be carried… which contains attacks on religious or communities or visuals or words contemptuous of religious groups”.