Kishtwar Administration Imposes Ban on Unregistered News Outlets Following Clash

Kishtwar's New Restrictions on News Reporting

On Monday, the authorities in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, announced a two-month prohibition on unregistered online news platforms and social media accounts from disseminating news and current events. This decision came in the wake of a violent confrontation between two groups in the district, as reported by a local news outlet.

A man was taken into custody for allegedly sharing a misleading video that the police claimed attempted to portray the incident in a communal light.

According to police reports, the clash erupted on Sunday in the Padyarna region when individuals from one religious group were transporting wooden logs from a forest. An accident occurred when one log fell near a madrassa, leading to a dispute that escalated into stone-throwing.

Minor injuries were reported among a few individuals involved in the altercation.

However, a local resident provided a different account, stating that the conflict began when a young man tried to place logs near a mosque, prompting objections from the imam. Following this, members of the Hindu community arrived, resulting in a clash.

The police have filed a first information report under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which address endangering public safety and rioting.

Another FIR was lodged against the individual who posted the video, under Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which penalizes the dissemination of false information intended to incite public disorder.

Kishtwar District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma issued an immediate order mandating adherence to the 2021 Information Technology Rules, restricting unregistered online news sources from publishing content without proper authorization.

Cyber cafe operators were also instructed to verify user identities and maintain accurate records. The district information officer was tasked with compiling a list of registered and unregistered news outlets in Kishtwar within a week, while the senior superintendent of police was assigned to enforce the new regulations.

The police urged the public to exercise caution and responsibility when using social media and digital platforms.

In response to the situation, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah, called for intervention from the Union government regarding the reported targeting of a mosque and madrassa during the clashes. He emphasized that India is a secular nation where the Constitution guarantees freedom for all religions to operate their institutions.