A few days after the Ramban Deputy commissioner asked Jammu Kashmir Police to verify the “authenticity” of media houses operating in the district, the Deputy Commissioner of Budgam has issued similar instructions to the Senior Superintendent of Jammu Kashmir for the central Kashmir district to “identify” media houses spreading “fake news.”
In an official letter, addressed to the SSP of Budgam district, the District Magistrate of Budgam district asked the Police to “identify all such fake media groups operating in the
District without any proper registration, and also verify the antecedents and source of funding of all so-called journalists who operate these illegal portals without any authorization and furnish the same to this office, so that action as warranted under the relevant provisions of Law is taken against them.”
“It has been observed that there is an unchecked growth of illegal/un-authorized/un-registered Portal Based News Channels operating through various social media platforms in the District. Some of them are also indulging in misinformation campaigns and Fake News against the government/ administration. Some government functionaries also face harassment in face of their activities,” the letter, of which The Kashmiriyat is in possession of, read.
The DM further said that “such portals” and persons involved need to be checked properly in order to avoid the emergence of any Law and Order situation and ensure public tranquility.
The official asked the SSP to identify all such fake media groups operating in the District without any proper registration and initiate action against them.