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Pulwama status: Terror rumours keep J&K Police on toes

The police in various districts of Kashmir established helplines soon after the social media was flooded with reports of “harassment” of Kashmiri students in Dehradun.

Pulwama status: Terror rumours keep J&K Police on toes

Rumours had started churning out following Friday’s clash at Jammu. (Representational Image: iStock)

With already in hand the major task of identifying the terrorists behind the suicide attack on the convoy in which around 44 CRPF personnel were killed, the Jammu and Kashmir police was on its toes on Saturday to tackle with rumours that the miscreants in Kashmir were spreading on the social media about “attacks” on Kashmiris in the curfew-bound Jammu and elsewhere.

The rumour mill sprung into action soon after the internet ban, which was imposed following the suicide attack on the convoy of CRPF on February 14, was lifted in the valley.

The IGPs of Jammu and the Kashmir divisions made appeals on Twitter and other social media handles asking people not to believe rumours being spread by miscreants.

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In a bid to instigate violence, miscreants also claimed that a Kashmiri driver has been killed in one such attack in Jammu. The IGP, Jammu, was quick in issuing a contradiction on his Twitter handle and the Kashmir Police retweeting, “Malicious rumour being spread regarding a death in Sarwal, Jammu. Please don’t fall prey to it. Rumour mongers would be dealt with strictly under law.”

The police at Udhampur also had to take to social media to clarify, “Some miscreants are floating rumours about attack on Kashmir based drivers/vehicles at Udhampur. This is totally baseless and fake. Don’t pay heed to such rumours. Rumour mongers would be dealt with strictly under law.”

“Curfew still imposed in Jammu district and strictly enforced. Situation normal. Don’t believe rumours being spread by miscreants; IGP Jammu,” said another tweet.

Certain Kashmir based politicians added to the confusion by claiming on the social media that they have talked to the authorities in Jammu about “such attacks” and sought security for the Kashmiris in the winter capital.

Rumours had started churning out following Friday’s clash here after which the Army was called out and curfew imposed but fake reports did not circulate widely as the mobile internet was switched off here and in the valley.

Moreover, tension had been brewing after some miscreants among the Kashmiri passengers stranded here due to the shutting of the Jammu-Srinagar Highway earlier this week raised pro-Pakistan slogans, triggering a clash with the students of the nearby science college.

The police in various districts of Kashmir have established helplines soon after the social media was flooded with reports of “harassment” of Kashmiri students in Dehradun.

In an apparent reference to the incidents following the martyrdom of CRPF personnel, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, “Understand the pain & anguish. But we mustn’t allow such mischievous elements to use this as an excuse to persecute/harass people from J&K. Why should they suffer for somebody else’s action? We need to be united instead of letting people exploit our fears.”

Referring to the resolution adopted at the All Party meeting called by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Omar Abdullah, former CM, tweeted, “Disappointed the resolution did not include a call for calm. Reports of violence in Jammu & tension in university/college campuses in some states, I would have expected an appeal for calm to have gone with the condemnation & condolences.”

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