Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: Government today banned 22 social networking sites and applications including Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter in Kashmir on the grounds that these were being misused by anti-national and anti-social elements for transmitting inflammatory messages.
A three page order of ban issued by Principal Secretary Home Department R K Goyal read: “In the interest of maintenance of public order, the Government hereby directs all internet service providers that any message or class of messages to or from a person or a class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir valley with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders, whichever is earlier”.
The order (NO. HOME/ISA/476 of 2017, dated 26-04-2017) said that under Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 all ISPs are asked that any message or class of messages or any pictorial content through these 22 sites shall not be transmitted in Kashmir with immediate effect for a period of one month or till further orders.
The sites and applications that were banned include Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Google Plus, Skype, Line, Pinterest, Snapchat, Youtube, Vine and Flickr, Viber, Telecom, Wechat, Qzone, Line and Reddit.
“On careful examination of all relevant factors, it is observed that the use of social media platforms, which are being misused by anti-national and anti-social elements by transmitting inflammatory messages in various forms are immediately required to be regulated/curbed,” the order read.
The order said that the anti-national and inimical elements largely succeed in transmitting unverified, objectionable and inflammatory material and content through the medium of these social networking sites.
“It is being felt that continued misuse of social networking sites and instant messaging services is likely to be detrimental to the interests of peace and tranquility in the State. It was also observed during law and order disturbances of 2016 in the Kashmir valley that anti-national and subversive elements extensively misused social media sites and instant messaging services for vitiating peace and instigating violence, which caused large scale damage to life and property,” the order stated.
The order, however, didn’t mention banning internet, mobile or broadband services in Kashmir.
The broadband internet services will continue to function. The order didn’t mention whether 2G service will continue as it was permitted during the ban on 3G and 4G service.
The 3G and 4G mobile internet service has been suspended in the Valley earlier this month when widespread students’ protests rocked Valley after the Pulwama Government college assault by forces in which 54 students were injured.
On April 9, the internet was suspended when by-polls were held for Srinagar Parliament seat, and on April 13 when re-polls were held in 38 polling stations where no voting could be held due to protests and killings of 8 civilians in Budgam and Ganderbal districts.
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