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Srinagar: The authorities have decided to block social media in Kashmir after the recent circulation of videos and live streaming of incidents, which are believed to lead widespread protests in volatile Kashmir valley.
Sources said that the decision will be taken “soon” to ban the social media in Kashmir valley, rather than shutting down the internet repeatedly after any volatile situation arises in the region.
The authorities have been shutting down internet in the Valley off and on after last year’s uprising and recently during by-polls for Srinagar parliamentary seat after protests and killings of eight youth on the polling day.
The internet bandwidth has been reduced to use of 2G only after the recent students protests on assault by forces on Government college in Pulwama town.
“The decision to ban social media will be announced soon. The government is, principally, of the view that social media has been creating volatile situation in Kashmir. To avoid the spread of rumours, panicky situation and spread of fake news that leads to violence and protests, we are forces to take the decision,” said a senior minister in the government.
“We are forced to take this decision as any action or medium that is a deteriorating peace and security and proving fatal for people requires to be acted upon,” the minister added.
A security official said that the security agencies have been mulling from some time to block access to social media like Facebook, WhatsApp and other sites which are in use across the world. (KNS)
[“Source-kashmirobserver”]