300 Social Media Accounts Blocked in 3 Days; Police Stations Asked to Register FIRs

Pak-based handlers attempt to fuel unrest in Doda after MLA’s detention

JAMMU, Sept 14: Security agencies have blocked nearly 300 social media accounts within just three days after detecting a coordinated propaganda campaign originating from Pakistan to instigate unrest in Doda district following the detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Officials said several accounts operating from Pakistan became active on Facebook, X, and Instagram, circulating morphed images and misleading posts to provoke locals. Some even incited people to attack and set ablaze Kathua District Jail, where the MLA has been lodged.

IT cells of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts worked round-the-clock to identify these accounts. Police Stations were directed to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against individuals operating from within Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. Requests were also sent to Meta and X to block Pakistan-based accounts.

“Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban police detected that several accounts with large followings—later traced to Pakistan—became active within hours of the arrest. They spread false claims and circulated images of protests from other states, falsely projecting them as fresh demonstrations in Doda,” sources told Excelsior.

DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Sridhar Patil, confirmed that strict surveillance was being maintained. “The IT teams of police in all three districts did an exemplary job in identifying accounts spreading fake news and provocative content. Legal action, as warranted, has been initiated against them,” he said.

Authorities said sufficient evidence has been shared with platforms, showing how the content aimed at inciting tensions, spreading misinformation, and creating disharmony in the region.

Key takeaway: The swift crackdown highlights how security agencies are closely monitoring online narratives, especially those driven by cross-border handlers, to prevent misinformation from escalating into law-and-order issues.