Authorities in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban have suspended more than 300 social media accounts in three days after they were found circulating provocative content and misinformation over the arrest of MLA Mehraj Malik.
As per officials, the IT cells of these three concerned districts monitored three prominent social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram and X, to track the accounts found sharing morphed images, distorted videos and fabricated posts aimed at creating civil unrest.
Police authorities also confirmed that First Information Reports (FIRs) have been recommended against several identified users. They said some of the accounts were traced locally within Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.
Law enforcement agencies have also written to social media companies for the permanent blocking of the remaining accounts. Social media platforms, according to leading research institutes, are often found involved in triggering protests, fuelling hate, ethnic and racial crimes and, in some cases, even igniting or fuelling civil wars in countries.
Social media can be both a helpful and dangerous tool, depending on the user’s intentions. It must also be understood that criminal gangs and terror organisations use social media platforms for the amplification of crimes and luring of innocent people.
Officials said the propaganda mainly included manipulated visuals of protests, misleading timelines of events and unrelated photographs portrayed as current demonstrations in Doda.
DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Sridhar Patil, stated that the IT Cells of the three districts worked tirelessly to identify and neutralise accounts spreading fake news. “Action as warranted under law has been taken and will continue against such elements,” he said.
Also Read: Internet services remain suspended as calm prevails in Doda
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