Rumours take life in Rajouri hostage, admn warns of PSA

RAJOURI: As a social media mischief took life in twin border districts hostage for more than two years, the administration in Rajouri has ordered a probe and warned of slapping Public Safety Act against the rumour mongers.
Panic gripped district Rajouri after messages on the whatsapp groups went viral about accident of a bus carrying school children to picnic. The initial messages alleging that 38 children have died on the spot sent many parents in anxiety even as the administration rushed in ambulances to the reported spot of incident.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri Shahid Choudhary has ordered a Magisterial probe into incident of rumour spread on social media about bus accident causing death of more than 40 students near Chhatapani in Poonch. The rumour spread by credible persons on whatsapp groups lead the administration in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on high alert.
The information was also sent to control rooms regarding incident by some people which lead to massive evacuation and rescue efforts. More than a dozen vehicles including ambulances were rushed from Rajouri to reported spot of accident while a similar effort was made by Poonch districts as well.
Officers of district administration contacted the owner of private school in Manjakote and thereafter Driver of vehicle which was reported to be safe and on way back nearly with hours after report of accident was spread.
Additional District Magistrate Mumtaz Ali will conduct the Magisterial probe to identify the persons involved in this planned mischief which spread in electronic and social media like a wildfire. ADM will be assisted by Addl SP Yousaf Choudhary, DIO NIC Sanjay Puri , ARTO Rajouri and General Manager Telecom. The team will also seek assistance from Cyber Wing of Police Department.
Magisterial enquiry was ordered after preliminary verification revealed involvement of some people who circulated the unverified news on whatsapp groups on twin districts which was also traced to a private school and some news groups. More than a dozen persons have been shortlisted for initial questioning to trace the originator(s) of rumour regarding accident.
Pertinently District Administration, Police, Army, Air force and all agencies were on high alert and initiated rescue and evacuation operation involving massive operations.
DC Rajouri briefed that persons involved in spreading such a serious kind of rumour are definitely guilty of disturbing security of State and law & order. Such practices if not controlled at this stage could take alarming proportions to cause irreparable damage over controversial issue, he added. It is contemplated to slap Public Safety Act against culprits involved in this incident.
DC Rajouri along with SSP and a dozen senior officers of various departments who responded to the faked emergent situation carried out an exercise to trace the culprits. Suspects are being called for questioning. Report has also been sought from intelligence agencies in this regards.
Police are lodging an FIR in the matter.