Two in police net for spreading online rumours

Editor

After suspending 3G and 4G mobile Internet services, the J&K Police have begun a crackdown against administrators of WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages who spread online rumours.
The police have arrested two persons in north Kashmir in past few days for circulating wrong news on the social media. The crackdown comes at a time when security agencies have made strong recommendation to curb the social media as it instigates youth to indulge in violence against the forces.
The two persons arrested in the latest crackdown are Ishfaq Hussain Hajam of Langate, Handwara and Hamza Farooq of Budgam. The duo, police said, had circulated fake reports about the killing of a boy in Sopore on the social media.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Sopore, Harmeet Singh said on April 18, a news appeared on a Facebook page that one youth was killed and 15 others were injured in Sopore.
“We immediately swung into action and registered a case. The administrator of the Facebook page was traced and was identified as Hamza Farooq, a resident of Kanipora Chadoora, Budgam. He was later arrested,” Harmeet Singh said.
An administrator of a WhatsApp group was also arrested in Handwara last week after he allegedly circulated a fake report about the death of a Sopore youth.
The J&K Government last week suspended 3G and 4G mobile Internet services in the Valley to curb rumours and also ensure that videos showing forces in bad light were not uploaded on social media.

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