Security agencies are advocating continuation of the ban on the social media in Kashmir claiming “it has yielded results on the ground”, as the one-month suspension ends on May 26.
Top police sources told The Hindu that there was “a visible change on the ground as rumour mongering on the social media sites like WhatsApp and Facebook has come down significantly” since the ban.
Tough challenge
However, the security agencies admit that stone pelting by the locals at the encounter sites remain “a major challenge”. “The issue of stone pelting is still there but lifting the ban may aggravate the present situation,” said a police officer.
The social media ban, which has been largely circumvented by consumers by using virtual private network (VPN), according to the security agencies, has “still slowed down public mobilisation” on the ground.
The police, tracking the videos being uploaded by militant supporters from across the border, said, “The challenge to counter the cyber war launched from across the border remains a tough one.”
The ongoing student protests are also being taken into account by the security agencies, which see “social media as a potent tool to further escalate the student agitation.”
“I am not authorised to speak on the issue (social media ban). Only State home secretary can comment (on the continuation of the ban),” Director General of Police S.P. Vaid told The Hindu.
The government invoked the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 last month to direct all telecom service providers to block social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp along with video sharing site YouTube. The move came in the wake of growing street protests in the Valley this year.
