In the report, the State Government also asserted that “certain elements have also resorted to use of force which has a demoralising effect on the overall environment in the area.”
Two days after banning social media networking sites in Kashmir, the J&K administration informed the Election Commission of India that “separatist and anti-national elements” have launched “extensive anti-poll campaign” on social media.
On April 26, the Government imposed a ban on transmission of messages or pictures through 22 social networking sites including widely-used Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. However, on April 28, the state administration communicated to the poll-body that “separatists are mobilizing youth through social networking sites.”
“The State administration in its report dated April 28, 2017 informed that separatists and anti-national elements, in addition to anti-election campaign, have launched extensive campaign on social media for mobilizing the youth and also threatened the general public against participation in polls by way of targeting political workers and families of police officers,” reads the ECI order on cancellation of polls for Anantnag parliamentary segment.
The ECI order however is silent on whether the State Government in its April 28 communiqué informed the poll-body about the ban imposed on social networking sites in Kashmir or kept it in dark to seek the deferment of polls.
In the report, the State Government also asserted that “certain elements have also resorted to use of force which has a demoralising effect on the overall environment in the area.”
