Social media content promoting disharmony to be a criminal offence in J-K
PTC News Desk: Sharing any content on social media that promotes disharmony will be a criminal offence in Jammu and Kashmir, said DGP R R Swain.
According to the J&K Director General of Police, a new provision under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be implemented.
It will be a crime for "terrorists, separatists, or anti-national elements" to post such messages or videos, according to Swain.
"Under (Section)144 CrPC, we have decided to bring a law on the posting of any type of content - message, video, audio - which will instigate communal disharmony and terrorise or threaten anyone," he added.
"Whether they are terrorists, separatists, or anti-national elements, posting such messages and videos will be a crime as per the law."
The DGP stated that before the law is enacted, it will be made public for feedback.
He also stated that those who forward and share such content will face legal consequences. Swain urged people to report any inappropriate content to the nearest police station.
"People who post videos, including those aimed to harm the respect of the Prophet (Muhammad), and those who forward it will be committing a crime," he went on to say.
"We will index such people, ensuring they face disadvantages for having done such a thing," he added.
The DGP emphasised the "disruptive impact" of such content, saying it causes "fear" and leads to the closure of colleges and schools.
According to Swain, Pakistani social media accounts generate and post content that is "shared by some elements regionally to cause trouble and harm peace."
He stated that the police would work with the Kashmiri people to "isolate such miscreants."
- With inputs from agencies
