Srinagar
Two journalists working in Kashmir were booked on Monday for reportedly posting “anti-national” content on social media and publishing a “fake” news story, police said.
A police spokesman in a statement said, “On 18.04.2020, Cyber Police Station Kashmir, Srinagar received information through reliable sources that one Facebook user namely Masrat Zehra is frequently uploading anti-national posts with the criminal intention.”
“The post by the users can provoke the public to disturb the law and order besides glorifying the anti-national activities etc,” said the spokesman.
“In this regard, FIR No. 10/2020 under the relevant provision of the law was registered at Cyber Police Station and investigation taken up. For the purpose of investigation facebook user Masrat Zehra was summoned at PS Sadder and not to Air Cargo Complex,” he said.
The spokesman said, “On 19.04.2020 an information has been received regarding a fake news item being published in the “The Hindu” newspaper by the journalist namely Pirzada Ashiq, regarding an encounter at Shopian and subsequent developments.”
“The details reflected in the news item were found factually incorrect and the said news could cause fear or alarm in the minds of the public. The said news was published without seeking confirmation from the District authorities,” said the spokesman.
“In this regard case FIR No. 81/2020 was registered in P/S Anantnag and the individual was called at P/S Anantnag for questioning. The investigation in both cases is in progress. For the purpose of the investigation, Police are legally duty-bound and lawfully empowered under Cr.PC to summon the suspects for questioning,” police said.
In a statement, IGP Kashmir appeals the members of journalist/ media fraternity not to publish fake/ fabricated news/ stories, which has bearing on national security and which has the potential of causing social instability and can lead to law and order problem.
“Any such information be clarified/confirmed before publication,” the spokesman quoted IGP Kashmir as saying.
