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| MHA tells JK govt to take strict action against rumour mongers | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 14: In a move to counter the rising incidences of "fake news and offensive posts" the Ministry of home affairs has asked the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to take stern action against those spreading fake news on social networking sites.
The MHA has also said that an FIR (first investigation report) may be filed against a social media group's administrator (admin) if factually incorrect information, rumours, or misleading information is circulated on his social media group.
"Anti peace elements are using the social media as a tool to foment violence in the valley. Unfortunately some social media groups are also spreading false and fake news. Now authorities have been directed to identify and initiate legal action against such groups," Sources quoting MHA said.
Sources said that the MHA believes that social media is playing a big role in radicalizing young people in the Kashmir Valley. "We have received the reports that the social media is being used by antinational elements in the Valley to exploit the sentiments of people,"
"The people are posting anything they want on social networking sites and WhatsApp groups. It is unfortunate that they don't understand the repercussions of spreading the misinformation," the MHA has said.
The sources said that it has been seen many times fake news and rumours spread over platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook caused tensions to flare up. "Now, the administrator of any group in which possibly damaging rumours are being spread, whether on Whatsapp, Facebook, or other social media, is liable for strict action,"
Meanwhile sources said that the Jammu and Kashmir police has already initiated process in this regard."There are several groups on social media which are named on news groups and also groups with other names which are propagating news and information which is not authentic," one of the police officials told early times on condition of anonymity.
It is to mention here that Police had filed an FIR against two facebook pages for spreading rumours regarding the death of a student in Handwara area of North Kashmir's Kupwara district.
The police have suggested that instead, admins must monitor what everyone is posting and, as soon as something false is identified, make clear that it is wrong and remove the person from the group. "They must also inform the police about the misleading information".
Meanwhile sources said that the state Intelligence agencies have singled out WhatsApp groups allegedly involved in mobilizing stone-throwers in the Valley. "The Intelligent Agencies have identified WhatsApp groups which provoke the crowd and orchestrate stone-throwers to interfere with anti-militant operations," sources in the intelligence agencies said.
In the past it has been seen that the authorities blocked hundreds of WhatsApp groups for "instigating violence in the Valley". |
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