Srinagar- The Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday issued guidelines for social media users under CrPC Section 144 in an attempt to curb spread of communally sensitive content and to discourage glorification of terrorism and secessionism.
“The guidelines aim to provide clarity on actions citizens should take when encountering content related to terrorism, secessionism, threats, intimidation, or communally sensitive material on social media platforms,” Police in Baramulla said on Thursday.
The guidelines come a week after Director General of Police (DGP) R R Swain, said that police will introduce a new provision under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to criminalise social media content that promotes disharmony and terrorise or threaten anyone.
According to the guidelines, the citizens have been asked to contribute to maintaining a safe online environment and promptly report any suspicious activity.
“If you receive a message containing objectionable content then report it immediately to the nearest Police Station or Police Post with a screenshot and detailed information,” the guidelines read.
The users have been advised to “recall messages promptly” in case they accidentally share inappropriate content. “If not possible, issue a clarification to each contact or group it was shared with. Report the incident to the authorities as a precaution,” it added.
In case of being part of any WhatsApp group frequented with messages or posts propagating terrorism, the police has said the presumption will be against the individuals unless they opt out or report the group to the police.
“Staying in such a group may be seen as agreement and approval of its content,” read the guidelines. These guidelines also emphasise the importance of prompt reporting and responsible social media use to curb the spread of harmful content.
The authorities in some districts have also sought to regulate unregistered news portals and social media news accounts.
As reported earlier police are actively tracking the IP addresses of individuals involved in spreading anti-national sentiment. What sets this initiative apart is the direct cooperation Police have secured from social media giants, including WhatsApp, X (formerly known as Twitter), Snapchat, Instagram, Telegram and others, a report by a Srinagar based news gathering agency had said.
District Magistrates Crack Whip Too
Meanwhile several District Magistrates in Kashmir Valley also issued advisories, asking people to refrain from preparing, posting, spreading or propagating incendiary messages and propaganda of terrorist and separatist outfits on social-media platforms.
In an order issued Thursday, the District Magistrate Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad issued an order asking the netizens in the district to refrain from all sorts of misuse of social-media platforms.
DM in an order issued here cited that it has been made to appear that some anti-national persons or groups are resorting to misuse of social-media networking platforms on internet by “preparing or posting or spreading or propagating by way of forwarding or sharing incendiary messages and propaganda of terrorist and separatist outfits”
Such activities, the order reads, are being carried out with intention to glorify terrorists and their actions, intimidate and terrorize individuals or general public or sections of public, exhort member(s) of public to resort to violence by inciting, encouraging and spreading disaffection/hatred, propagate terrorist and secessionist ideology and false narratives, and promoting fell of hatred, ill-will on religious grounds which is likely to disturb public order and tranquillity.
“Such acts on part of these anti-national persons or groups are prejudicial to the security of the state, maintenance of law and order and are likely to disturb the public tranquility”, reads the order adding “such acts on the part of these anti-national persons or groups are aimed at terrorising common citizens and public functionaries from discharging their lawful duties,” the order reads.
The DM has prohibited and ordered the people to refrain from ‘posting’ or ‘uploading’ or ‘propagating’ by way of ‘forwarding’ or ‘sharing’ any messages or content as mentioned with immediate effect within the limits of District Bandipora.
The order by DM Bandipora came a day after three Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in Ganderbal, Kulgam and Shopian issued advisory asking people to refrain from misusing social media.
The DM also emphasized the responsibility of citizens to report messages or posts propagating terrorism or secessionism, even if not downloaded, to ensure the collective safety of the community.
“Such misuse of social media is deemed detrimental to the state’s security and the maintenance of law and order,’ reads an order issued by District Magistrate, Ganderbal on Wednesday.
The DM also issued Dos and Don’ts for social media users.
“In the event of receiving messages propagating terrorism, secessionism, or communally sensitive material, individuals are urged to promptly report such instances, along with screenshots and details, to the nearest police station or police post,” the order reads.
“In cases where individuals inadvertently share such content, the administration advises immediate retrieval of messages, followed by a clarification to contacts or groups,” it adds.
The order also asks users to report any such incidents to the nearest police station or police post as a precautionary measure.
“The District Administration encourages proactive engagement from citizens in maintaining a secure and harmonious community,” the order adds.
The district authorities also issued control room numbers for the people to report such messages or content.
Pertinently, the first such order warning users of action under Section 188 IPC, was issued by the district administration Kupwara last Thursday.
Invoking powers under Section 144 CrPC 1973, the District Magistrate, Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan had asked people to refrain from ‘posting, uploading, propagating any incendiary messages and propaganda of terrorist and separatist outfits.
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