‘Aware of VPN usage; focus on misuse for now’
TNN Bureau. Updated: 2/20/2020 9:43:11 AM
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JAMMU: Asserting that the Union Territory administration and security forces are well aware about people using VPN apps to access social media sites despite a ban by Home department, J&K police chief Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said that the police is currently concerting on miscreants who are misusing Facebook and WhatsApp to spread rumours in the valley.
He said that the Police will act against the misuse of social media networks, allegedly being used to stoke violence in the valley.
"We have evidence whereby social media was used through VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to tell militants to carry out attacks at certain places. On priority, we are targeting such misuse of social media," Singh told reporters.
He said the Jammu and Kashmir administration had issued an order on January 14 banning the use of social media but the police was only going after those who were misusing it.
"We are sharing information (through WhatsApp) with you which means we know that you are using it. We are keeping a vigil on the use of social media and will act against those who misuse it," Singh said.
The DGP was responding to a question about the police spokesperson using WhatsApp to share press releases and send invitations for events including his press conference on Wednesday in spite of the ban on the use of social media.
"There have been several instances of misuse. For example, the driver of the truck which was carrying militants at Nagrota sent a photograph to his handlers in Pakistan the moment his vehicle was intercepted at the naka," he said.
"We have to differentiate between use and misuse... when someone misuses the social media, there will be no room for leniency. You should be thankful that you are able to use it," he added.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar dismissed reports in some sections of media that 200 persons have been booked for using VPN.
"We have registered a general FIR. The report that 200 persons have been booked is absolutely wrong," Kumar said.
DGP Singh said that he was hopeful that US President Donald Trump's visit to India will pass off peacefully.
"Two foreign delegations have visited Kashmir and they witnessed normalcy in the Valley," Singh said.
"There are some apprehensions, like always, militants are still present in good numbers, we hope visit passes off peacefully, we have security arrangements in place."