The District Magistrate of Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban on Monday asked police to identify “fake media groups” that were operating without any proper registration in the district. In his letter to Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban, District Magistrate Mussarat Islam asked him to take note of “illegal and unregistered portal-based news organisations operating through various social media platforms, especially Facebook”.
The DM, in his letter, said these sites were spreading propaganda, fake news and indulging in the blackmail of government functionaries in the district.
“On most of the occasions, they are seen interfering in smooth running of the administrative affairs and planting anti-government stories which are largely aimed at maligning the image of the administration and always portraying them in bad light,” the letter said.
The DM also said that a large number of district and sectoral officers had complained of harassment at the hands of self-proclaimed media persons who, without carrying any authentic identification, “barge into their offices and start recording videos and post them in various social media groups”.
He has asked the police to identify such fake media groups functioning without any proper registration and to verify the antecedents and source of funding of all so-called journalists who operate illegal portals without any valid degree, qualification and authorisation from the competent authority.
The DM further said that if these channels and journalists operating these illegal portals remain un-checked, there is every apprehension of emerging law and order situation with the potential to disturb the peaceful fabric of the district.
“The list of all such ‘media organisations’ and so-called journalists may be shared with this office for taking further necessary action in the matter,” the DM said.