Home Ministry asks Twitter to block accounts ‘spreading rumours’ regarding Kashmir

The Home Ministry has asked microblogging site Twitter to take down eight twitter handles run by people outside Jammu and Kashmir, for posting “objectionable and malicious” and spreading misinformation, particularly relating to Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.

“We have asked Twitter to take down some 7-8 accounts that are spreading false information about what is happening in Kashmir... ,” a senior government official was quoted – on the condition anonymity – as saying by The Hindu.

The accounts which have been asked to remove are: @kashmir787 (Voice of Kashmir), @Red4Kashmir (Madiha Shakil Khan), @arsched (Arshad Sharif), @mscully94 (Mary Scully), @sageelaniii (Syed Ali Geelani), @sadaf2k197, @RiazKha61370907, and @RiazKha723, reported Firstpost.

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Separately, Jammu and Kashmir Police has written to the service provider to take action against twitter handles and other such posts on social media who are spreading misinformation.

"There is a malicious campaign launched on social media about the situation in Kashmir. We have taken it up with service providers... this campaign has been manifested from outside," said SP Pani, Inspector General of Kashmir.

Intelligence agencies are closely monitoring these twitter handles who are constantly monitoring attempts to whip up sentiments from outside Kashmir even as Valley remains cut off from mobile and internet connectivity.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) S P Pani also said there has been a malicious campaign on social media and the contents of these were strongly refuted by the police. "We request citizens not to pay attention to such things. We have strongly denied this," he said, referring to a tweet by a Pakistani journalist in which he alleged a fratricidal incident involving security forces in the Kashmir valley.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Ministry is already contemplating legal action against media outlets for reporting baseless news relating to developments in Jammu and Kashmir. According to a news report in IANS, Ministry of Home Affairs may serve legal notices to such news organisations if they are prima facie found projecting "fabricated and provocative" stories leading to law and order situation in the sensitive Valley region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Modi government scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and Ladakh without a legislature.

President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to the legislation on Jammu and Kashmir's bifurcation and the new Union Territories will come into existence on October 31.