SOCIAL MEDIA USE | DM Budgam orders public to refrain from sharing content related to disturb public order - Greater Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 6: The District Magistrate of central Kashmir’s Budgam district has ordered the public to refrain from uploading the content on social media platforms that is prejudicial to the security of the state, maintenance of law and order, and is likely to disturb the public tranquility.

This has been stated by DM Budgam, Akshay Labroo in an order issued Wednesday evening.

“Whereas, it has been made to appear to me that some anti-national persons or groups are resorting to misuse of the social media networking platforms on internet by ‘preparing’ or ‘posting’ or ‘uploading’ or propagating by way of ‘forwarding’ or ‘sharing’ incendiary messages and propaganda of terrorist and separatist outfits, with the intention to glorify terrorist and their actions, intimidate and terrorise individuals or general public or sections of public, exhort member(s) of public to resort to violence by inciting, encouraging and spreading disaffection and hatred, propagate terrorist and secessionist ideology and false narratives, promoting feeling of hatred ill-will on religious ground and likely to disturb public order and tranquility,” reads the order of DM Budgam. “Whereas, 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.”

“Whereas, 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,” it states. “Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred upon me by section 144 CrPC 1973, I Akshay Labroo (IAS), District Magistrate Budgam, do hereby prohibit and order the general public to refrain from ‘posting’ or ‘uploading’ or propagating by way of ‘forwarding’ or ‘sharing’ any messages or content as mentioned above with immediate effect within the limits of District Budgam. The order will come into force with immediate effect.”

DGP Rashmi Ranjan Swain recently said that posting social media content that promotes disharmony would soon be criminalised in J&K.

He said that a new provision under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) would be introduced into the effect.

“Posting such messages or videos by terrorists, separatists or anti-national elements will be a crime,” R R Swain had said.” 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.”

“Whether they are terrorists, separatists, or anti-national elements, posting such messages and videos will be a crime as per the law,” he had said.