J&Ok Police register FIR over ‘faux information’ amid pro-Iran protests, valley on alert
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday stated an FIR was registered and summons have been issued concerning the “circulation of faux, fabricated and deceptive info by sure information channels, media shops and people throughout digital and social media platforms”.
Political leaders in Kashmir have accused the authorities of “censorship”, saying that the social media handles of some media shops have been taken down from some platforms.
Restrictions on civilian motion, put in place on Monday amid the protests, continued to be in place on Tuesday.
A number of folks, together with police personnel, have been injured in clashes as police fired teargas shells to disperse protesters in north Kashmir.
On Tuesday morning, Shia mourners took to the streets in a number of villages bordering the Baramulla and Bandipore districts. At Gamud and Duslipora village, police fired teargas shells.
The visitors on the Srinagar-Baramulla freeway was stopped on Tuesday, and travellers have been suggested to take alternate routes.
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Whereas the key markets in Srinagar and another cities remained shut, the day handed off peacefully in most components of the Valley.
As a precautionary measure, the J&Ok authorities has shut colleges within the Valley until Monday, and cell web speeds proceed to stay gradual. Police sources stated the restrictions on motion would proceed on Wednesday as nicely.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high-level assembly of senior police and civil administration officers on the Police Management Room, Kashmir, to evaluate the law-and-order state of affairs.
The assembly was attended by Director Common of J&Ok Police, Nalin Prabhat; ADGP CID, Nitish Kumar; IGP Kashmir, V Ok Birdi; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg; and different senior officers.
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Sinha directed officers to stay on “heightened alert” and take all crucial measures to make sure public peace and tranquillity. He additionally appealed to residents and group leaders to uphold concord and contribute to an environment of calm and goodwill in society.
“Preserving peace and sustaining the progress of society is a shared duty that rests equally upon every considered one of us,” he stated.
‘Deceptive info’
Relating to the alleged circulation of faux information, police stated, “Srinagar police has taken severe cognisance of the deliberate circulation of false, fabricated and deceptive info by sure information channels, media shops and people throughout digital and social media platforms.” A case was registered on the Cyber Police Station, they stated, including, “These components are systematically making an attempt to unfold disruptive narratives to unfold unverified content material with clear intent to incite unrest, disturb public order and create disharmony in society.”
Police additional stated that “some outstanding people are reportedly making makes an attempt to impress actions which will disturb peace and public order”.
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“All such actions are beneath shut watch and crucial measures are being taken,” police stated.
Political leaders from the Valley have criticised authorities and accused them of “censorship”, saying that the social media handles of some media shops have been taken down from some platforms.
Former chief minister and Individuals’s Democratic Get together (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti stated, “At a time when persons are grieving and displaying solidarity with Iran, why is the federal government censoring Larger Kashmir, Kashmir Life and Rising Kashmir? Authorities should reverse these actions and uphold press freedom and democratic rights.”
“Platforms like Meta and Instagram mustn’t gag freedom of expression or amplify propaganda by silencing the folks’s voice. The J&Ok authorities should additionally cease censoring media within the area,” she stated.
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Individuals’s Convention president Sajad Lone stated, “The FB and Instagram handles of some media establishments have been blocked. Most of them are accountable, mature establishments and embody GK, Kashmir Life and Rising Kashmir.”
“Their absence will do extra hurt. At occasions, it has been seen that house vacated by accountable establishments might be crammed by unknown entities, additional harming the reason for a free and accountable media,” he added.
(With inputs from Naveed Iqbal)