Guwahati: The Union information and broadcasting ministry on Wednesday prohibited transmission or re-transmission by a local television news channel of Assam, Dy 365, for three days on any platform throughout the country, as a penalty for telecasting a footage "extremely disturbing and not suitable for unrestricted public exhibition".

The ministry, in its order, said the channel had telecast a news report on June 4, 2016, based on a ritual "in which a man could be seen tossing a newborn baby up and down in the air". The channel will be off the air from 1am on Friday.

Sources in the management of the channel told The Telegraph that the penalty was too harsh.

"We were intimated about the decision on Wednesday. We now have only one option left with us, to appeal for a review," a channel source said .