J&K Police identifies 200 social media handles involved in radicalisation

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Police has identified 200 social media handles operated from within and outside the country, which are involved in radicalisation and glorifying terrorism .

The cyber cell has launched a major crackdown against the social media handles involved in “anti-national propaganda and radicalisation”, a police spokesperson said, adding that the operation has been going on for the past three months.

“Adverse social media handles operating across multiple platforms, including those managed from outside the country, have been identified and targeted through legal and preventive action. During this period, 200 adverse social media handles engaged in spreading misinformation and extremist content have been identified, with 100 of them operating from outside the country,” the spokesperson said.

A number of social media accounts involved in anti-national propaganda, radicalisation and glorification of terrorists have been blocked, and legal action has been initiated against key propagators, with multiple FIRs filed under relevant criminal laws, police said.

Many people influenced by online propaganda have been counselled and handed back to their families as part of a de-radicalisation initiative, police further informed, but did not specify the number of such people.

Last month, J&K Police had booked six people in Budgam district for creating fake accounts and sharing content that glorified terrorism. Police asserted that they are committed to safeguarding “national security in both physical and digital spaces”, and have been keeping a tight vigil over social media.

For govt employees, J&K already a social media policy in place, which prohibits them from engaging in any form of public criticism of govt policies or actions. It also stipulates that govt employees must refrain from making any statements or expressing opinions that could “potentially jeopardise” J&K’s relations with the Centre or any other state/UT.