Police in Rajouri district have registered an FIR against one Facebook page journalist for allegedly spreading fake rumors.
A top police officer told news agency Kashmir Scroll that the FIR was registered following a complaint by a local Farooq (name changed).
According to the complaint, the journalist of the local Facebook page circulated a video on Facebook in which he claimed to have seen the local youth with unidentified individuals carrying AK47 rifles and alleged that Farooq (name changed) was associated with militants and had returned home after leaving his mobile phone at the spot. However, within hours, he deleted the video from social media.
Based on the complaint, the FIR (No. 102 of 2023) has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including sections 384, 500, 504, 505, and 506. These sections pertain to publishing rumors, making threats, and related offenses.
The complainant stated that a Facebook journalist demanded a significant amount of money from him and, when refused, resorted to using abusive language and threatening to produce false reports associating him with militants.
The complaint also claimed that the Facebook journalist’s false and defamatory reporting had created tension among the locals, causing them to be apprehensive and concerned for their safety.
This led to a large number of people congregating in the area during the night.
The Facebook journalist subsequently deleted the video and has reportedly fled from his native village to evade legal action.
The complainant has urged the SHO Police Station Kandi and SSP Rajouri to arrest him to prevent him from engaging in further acts that could harm harmony and national integrity.
Along with the complaint, Farooq (name changed) submitted a copy of the video as evidence to support his claims against a Facebook journalist.
The police are now investigating the matter, and appropriate legal action will be taken against the Facebook journalist once he is apprehended, the officer added. (KS)