Sopore, Dec 08: After the recent social media coverage of an alleged suicide case of a female from Sopore, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sopore, Shabir Nawab, issued a stern warning to social media page handlers, urging them to refrain from glorifying suicide cases.
He emphasized that strict legal actions would be taken against those involved in glorifying suicide cases in the police district Sopore.
The Sopore police chief stated that the police in north Kashmir’s Sopore Police District are prepared to take decisive measures against individuals engaged in glorifying suicide cases over social media pages.
This advisory follows a recent suicide case in Sopore, where a teenage girl from Harwan Tujjer village allegedly took her own life by jumping into the River Jhelum at Jamia Bridge in the township. Her body is yet to be traced.
SSP Sopore expressed concern over unnecessary media coverage, which he deemed “intolerable” and believed contributes to a surge in suicide incidents in Sopore.
Senior citizens in the town have expressed concerns over unnecessary media coverage, believing it sensationalizes incidents and may negatively influence the younger generation.
Healthcare officials in Sopore also suggested that only rescue teams should be allowed at such sites to prevent them from becoming picnic spots.
A doctor at GMC Baramulla highlighted that many individuals attempting self-harm first make videos and circulate them before the act.
He said that the Baramulla district administration has taken measures to prevent the circulation of such videos.
Dr. Parvaiz Masoodi, Medical Superintendent at GMC Baramulla, emphasized the consequences of live or delayed coverage of self-harm attempts on social media, stating that it prompts depressive individuals to take extreme steps in the same fashion, citing World Health Organization guidelines on suicide prevention.
He emphasizes the World Health Organisation guidelines for preventing suicide, stating that sensationalist portrayals of suicide in the media and news stories can result in an increase in suicides due to imitation.
Dr. Masoodi adds, “Our actions in Baramulla successfully mitigated the imitation effect or copycat effect.”
In December 2022, the Sopore police had banned unwanted assembly of people and clicking of pictures and videos at the search and rescue operation site in the town.
People were assembling near the rescue operation site and clicking pictures and videos for fun.
A police officer said that unprofessional volunteers were also taking part in the rescue operation. So, a blanket ban was put on such practices.
He said that a few amateur mobile users were seen trying to sensationalize the issue to gain few likes and views on their videos.
In Sopore town alone, three suicide cases were reported this year, where young females jumped into the river Jehlum, and their bodies were recovered after days.
