Srinagar: More than 1,000 social media handles are being probed by the Jammu & Kashmir cyber police.
It has also summoned ten people for questioning for alleged misuse of social media.
“We are probing over 1,000 handles on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram that have been creating chaos and confusion, spreading fake news, glorifying terrorism, terrorists and secessionism,” cyber police station and anti-militancy unit head Tahir Ashraf was quoted as saying by ET.
Earlier this week, Police lodged a first information report under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against social media users who used VPNs to bypass the internet ban. “Misuse of virtual private network (VPNs) also comes in the ambit of illegal activity as the government has temporarily banned use of social media in J&K,” Ashraf was quoted as saying.
“Filing FIR and ban on social media act as deterrents to ensure peaceful and law-abiding society. People have to understand what is illegal and what is legal. We have summoned 10 people for questioning till now,” Ashraf said. The FIR has been registered under sections 13 of UAPA, 188 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code and 66-A (b) of IT Act.
The decision to file an FIR was reportedly taken after rumours on two videos of ailing senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani were circulated on social media. The police is probing the source of the videos in which Geelani talks about his last wish of burial and his political and religious belief. “We have questioned two people from Geelani’s residence over videos uploaded on social media. They were detained by Budgam Police,” Ashraf said.