Srinagar: Police on Monday said that the First Information Report (FIR) was registered against two journalists for “objectionable” posts and “fake” news.
Police spokesman in a statement said that its Cyber Police Station Kashmir, Srinagar received an 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 and to glorify the anti-national activities,” statement said.
In this regard, he said, an FIR No 10/2020 under the relevant provision of law was registered at Cyber Police Station. “The Cyber Police Station called the Facebook user Masrat Zehra to Police Station for questioning and not called to Air Cargo Complex,” statement read.
The statement further reads, similarly, on 19 April 2020 an information has been received regarding a “fake news” item being published in the leading national newspapers “The Hindu” by the journalist namely Peerzada Ashiq, regarding an encounter at Shopian and subsequent developments.
“The details quoted in the news item were factually incorrect and could cause fear or alarm in the minds of public,” statement reads.
The news, it said, was published without seeking confirmation from the District authorities.
“In this regard an FIR No 81/2020 was registered in police station Anantnag and the individual was called subsequently for questioning,” it reads on.
The police, statement said is under duty and lawfully empowered under Cr.PC to call for questioning. “The investigation in both the cases is in progress,” statement read.
Meanwhile Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar has appealed the members of journalist/media fraternity to not to publish fake/fabricated news/stories, which has bearing on security of the nation and has the potential of causing social instability besides can lead to law and order problem.
He further appealed that any such information be clarified/confirmed before publication.