Khamenei killing: As protests continue in Kashmir, police file FIR over ‘fake news’

Several people, including police personnel, were injured in clashes as police fired teargas shells to disperse protesters in north Kashmir.

On Tuesday morning, Shia mourners took to the streets in several villages bordering the Baramulla and Bandipore districts. At Gamud and Duslipora village, police fired teargas shells.

The traffic on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway was stopped on Tuesday, and travellers were advised to take alternate routes.

While the major markets in Srinagar and some other towns remained shut, the day passed off peacefully in most parts of the Valley.

As a precautionary measure, the J&K government has shut schools in the Valley till Monday, and mobile internet speeds continue to remain slow. Police sources said the restrictions on movement would continue on Wednesday as well.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting of senior police and civil administration officials at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, to review the law-and-order situation.

The meeting was attended by Director General of J&K Police, Nalin Prabhat; ADGP CID, Nitish Kumar; IGP Kashmir, V K Birdi; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg; and other senior officials.

Sinha directed officers to remain on “heightened alert” and take all necessary measures to ensure public peace and tranquillity. He also appealed to citizens and community leaders to uphold harmony and contribute to an atmosphere of calm and goodwill in society.

“Preserving peace and sustaining the progress of society is a shared responsibility that rests equally upon each one of us,” he said.

‘Misleading information’

Regarding the alleged circulation of fake news, police said, “Srinagar police has taken serious cognisance of the deliberate circulation of false, fabricated and misleading information by certain news channels, media outlets and individuals across electronic and social media platforms.” A case was registered at the Cyber Police Station, they said, adding, “These elements are systematically attempting to spread disruptive narratives to spread unverified content with clear intent to incite unrest, disturb public order and create disharmony in society.”

Police further said that “some prominent individuals are reportedly making attempts to provoke activities that may disturb peace and public order”.

“All such actions are under close watch and necessary measures are being taken,” police said.

Political leaders from the Valley have criticised authorities and accused them of “censorship”, saying that the social media handles of some media outlets were taken down from some platforms.

Former chief minister and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti said, “At a time when people are grieving and showing solidarity with Iran, why is the government censoring Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Life and Rising Kashmir? Authorities must reverse these actions and uphold press freedom and democratic rights.”

“Platforms like Meta and Instagram should not gag freedom of expression or amplify propaganda by silencing the people’s voice. The J&K government must also stop censoring media in the region,” she said.

People’s Conference president Sajad Lone said, “The FB and Instagram handles of some media institutions have been blocked. Most of them are responsible, mature institutions and include GK, Kashmir Life and Rising Kashmir.”

“Their absence will do more harm. At times, it has been seen that space vacated by responsible institutions can be filled by unknown entities, further harming the cause of a free and responsible media,” he added.

(With inputs from Naveed Iqbal)