The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written to Twitter, asking them to block at least eight accounts on its the micro-blogging platform, for allegedly spreading rumours about the prevailing situation in Kashmir.
The Union home secretary recommended the closure of few Twitter accounts for “spreading rumours and misinformation to disturb the peace and calm in the Valley.”
The list of Twitter accounts recommended for suspension include:
- @kashmir787 – Voice of Kashmir
- @Red4Kashmir – MadihaShakil Khan
- @arsched – Arshad Sharif
- @mscully94 – Mary Scully
- @sageelaniii – Syed Ali Geelani
- @sadaf2k19
- @RiazKha61370907
- @RiazKha723
The list included one account allegedly belonging to separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani. Moreover, Arshad Sharif, whose name also appears in the list, is a journalist with ARY News, while Mary Scully is with Pakistan Today.
As the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is gradually coming back to normal, some elements, especially Pakistanis are having a hard time to digest that normalcy is prevailing in the Valley.
Today, one Pakistani journalist, Waj Khan, in order to continue to paint gloom in Kashmir was exposed by CRPF for spreading fake news and misinformation about the condition in the state.
Khan had tweeted that there is a rift between the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF personnel in the state as one Muslim Kashmiri Policeman killed 5 CRPF soldiers for not allowing a pregnant woman to travel as she didn’t have a curfew pass.
However, the official Twitter account of CRPF was quick to admonish the malicious lies peddled by the Pakistani journalist. Kashmir police had also dismissed the claim and have stated that the Pakistani journalist’s malicious tweet has been reported to Twitter.
Taking into account such malicious attempts by fearmongers, Jammu and Kashmir principal secretary Rohit Kansal said in a press release that a malicious campaign has been unleashed on social media and international media to project a negative image of the situation in Kashmir.
“There have been some reports in the media about firing by security agencies and deaths, the police carried out a detailed briefing and I would like to reiterate and categorically deny that any firing incident has happened in Jammu and Kashmir,” said Rohit Kansal.
He further asserted that “not a single bullet has been fired by the security agencies nor has there been any casualty.”
Rohit Kansal, J&K Principal Secy (Planning Commission): There have been some reports in the media about firing by security agencies & deaths, the police carried out a detailed briefing & I would like to reiterate & categorically deny that any firing incident has happened in J&K. pic.twitter.com/BGfaehNaiO
— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2019
Pakistan is thoroughly rattled by India’s decision to abrogate Article 370. Pakistan PM Imran Khan had warned that Pulwama kind of attacks might happen again after India’s decision. Pakistan also took its fulminations to the UNSC, only to be snubbed by its chief. The UNSC chief reminded Pakistan of the Shimla Agreement and refused to intervene in the matter claiming it’s a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.
Last week, on Monday, August 6, India struck down the partition relic of Article 370 and bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. A curfew was imposed in the state to prevent chaos and disorder. The curfew is being relaxed or tightened in many areas in the state based on the ground situation as assessed by the security agencies.
On Monday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also conducted an aerial survey of Srinagar and South Kashmir areas to take stock of the security situation.
Officials confirmed that police chief Dilbag Singh and Army commanders also undertook separate aerial visits of various parts of the Kashmir Valley and found the situation in the Valley to be absolutely fine.
