Police issues notices to 21 Whatsapp group admins in Kishtwar

Jammu, July 11: Tightening noose against rumour mongers and unregistered news groups operational on social media, police on Tuesday issued notices to 21 Whatsapp group admins in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.

''Noose has been tightened on Whatsapp misusers after police got an order from the District Magistrate, Kishtwar for proper registration and regulation of various Whatsapp groups, in operation in the district,'' Kishtwar SSP Abrar Ahmad Choudhary said here.

Police on Tuesday served notices to 21 Whatsapp Group Admins to get their groups registered immediately, lest get ready to face legal action.

He said in the last couple of years, there has been mushrooming of Whatsapp groups in the district.
''There had been continuous reports of misuse of these Whatsapp groups, leading to dissemination of such information having the potential of creating communal and other law and order situations.

''Besides, there was a trend of glorifying the terrorist acts in the valley by uploading objectionable videos, audios and textual information,'' he added.

He said details were collected about the activities of various Whatsapp groups over the last three months. It was found that most of these groups were involved in spreading concocted stories, fake news, half-baked information and rumours.

''After collecting a considerable date on the activities of Whatsapp groups in the district, we came to the conclusion that many of these groups are being misused for dissemination of half-baked and unscrupulous information, including rumours, having potential to create law and order situations like communal wedge, and social unrest,'' said the SSP.

Mr Choudhary said that so far, only five groups have applied for the registration with the District NIC Officer Kishtwar and of these five, three are official and only two are private groups.

''On the expiry of 10 days today, we have issued noticed to at least 21 Whatsapp Group Admins to immediately register their groups with the concerned quarters, failing which action under law shall be initiated against them in the event of anything done in these groups, which is contrary to the law of the land,'' maintained the SSP, Kishtwar.