Srinagar, Aug 10: Stating that some social networking news groups are spreading false and fake news in the state, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief Thursday said that police is to initiate strong action against all such groups.
“Anti peace elements are using the social media as a tool to foment bloodshed and violence in the valley. Unfortunately some whatsapp news groups are also spreading false and fake news. The CID department will soon identify and initiate legal action against such groups and that the process in this regard has already been initiated,” the DGP S. P Vaid told KNS over phone.
He said 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 groups and stone-throwers in the Valley to exploit the sentiments of people,” he maintained.
He said internet services in the Valley had to be suspended to “prevent the spread of disinformation.” It has been seen that the people are posting anything they want on WhatsApp groups. It is unfortunate that they don’t understand the repercussions of spreading the misinformation,” the DGP maintained.
He said that the police will constitute dedicated teams to counter the “anti-national propaganda” on the social media.
Meanwhile sources said that 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.
As per sources, the analysis of mobile phones by intelligence agencies have revealed that creators, administrators and some members of the WhatsApp groups were based in Pakistan.
In April this year, the authorities blocked hundreds of WhatsApp groups for “instigating violence in the Valley”. (KNS)