Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir police have registered First Information Report (FIR) for misuse of social media platforms for spreading false and fake facts having the effect of causing social instability, a police spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range Vijay Kumar said that stern action would be taken against all those social media users who defied the government orders and misused the social media network through VPN.
'Taking serious note of misuse of Social media, the Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar has registered an FIR against those who have defied the government orders and misused the social media platforms,' a police spokesman said on Monday night.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory (UT) Government has issued an order vide Government Order No Home-03 (TSTS) of 2020 dated January 14, 2020, banning all social media sites to curb the misuse of the sites by miscreants for propagating false information/ rumors. 'The ban was ordered to stall the rumor mongering and spreading false and fake facts having the effect of causing social instability,' he said.
However, there have been continuous reports of misuse of social media sites by the miscreants to propagate the secessionist ideology and to promote unlawful activities, he said adding Social media has remained a favorite tool which largely provides anonymity to the user and also gives wide reach.
He said the FIR has been registered while taking cognisance of the social media posts by the miscreants by use of different VPNs, which are propagating rumors with regard to the current security scenario of the Kashmir valley, propagating secessionist ideology and glorifying terror acts/ terrorists.
Lot of incriminating material has also been seized in this regard. This is the first FIR registered in Cyber Police Station Kashmir Zone Srinagar since its notification by the Government. The case is registered under FIR No 01 of 2020 U/S 13 U A (P) Act, 188, 505 of IPC and 66-A(b) of IT Act. Currently cyber police station is headed by Superintendent of police Shri Tahir Ashraf-JKPS.
IGP Kashmir Kumar has made an appeal to general public not to use social media via VPN.Mobile internet and broadband service of all Cellular companies was suspended in the Kashmir valley on August 5, 2019, when centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A besides divided the state into two Union Territories (UTs).
However, 2G mobile internet service was resumed on January 25 while high speed internet and broadband remained suspended. The social media sites also remained banned and government had directed people to assess only whitelisted sites.(UNI)