Baramulla Police warns against online sharing of terrorist, separatist propaganda

Baramulla, Dec 07: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla Amod Ashok Nagpure on Thursday warned against sharing any content related to terrorist and separatist propaganda over social media handles or pages.
Addressing a press conference here, the SSP said strict action would be taken against individuals disseminating posts associated with terrorist and separatist organisations on any social media platform.
He said police have undertaken necessary preparations to crack down on those employing digital devices or special media channels to spread content issued by terrorist or separatist groups.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, SSP Baramulla urged the public to report any messages related to terrorism and propaganda activities to the nearest police station.
“Failure to do so could result in legal action being taken against the individuals,” he added.
The SSP’s warning extended to parents, with a specific emphasis on ensuring that children, especially teenagers, use social media responsibly. This precautionary measure aims to prevent inadvertent associations with unlawful content.
He said the police have issued a set of Dos and Don’ts, along with frequently asked questions (FAQs), to address the growing concern about the misuse of social media under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
“The guidelines aim to provide clarity on actions citizens should take when encountering content related to terrorism, secessionism, threats, intimidation, or communally sensitive material on social media platforms,” the SSP further said.
Baramulla Police also urged the citizens to contribute to maintaining a safe online environment by adhering to these guidelines and promptly reporting any suspicious activities.
“If you receive a message containing objectionable content then report it immediately to the nearest Police Station or Police Post with a screenshot and detailed information,” SSP Baramulla said while briefing the media. He said that in case of accidentally sharing inappropriate content, citizens are advised to recall the messages promptly.
“If not possible, issue a clarification to each contact or group it was shared with. Report the incident to the authorities as a precaution,” he further said.
In case of being part of any WhatsApp group frequented with messages or posts, propagating terrorism, the police have advised that the presumption will be against the individuals unless they opt out or report the group to the police.
“Staying in such a group may be seen as agreement and approval of its content,” read the guidelines issued by police.