Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Feb 21: Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar on Monday February 21 appealed to citizens to cooperate with the police in maintaining peace in the wake of violent incidents in Shivamogga following the murder of a Bajrang Dal activist.
The police commissioner especially emphasized on the need to desist from posting any inflammatory content on social media that may harm communal harmony.
Addressing a press meet here on Monday, he said, "Political leaders, organisations, schools and college administrations have cooperated with the Mangaluru city police commissionarate and no untoward incident has occurred. In a similar way, people should cooperate in Mangaluru to maintain peace.
"The social media cell has been closely monitoring individuals, organizations, and political leaders on various platforms to make sure that there is no objectionable post which disturbs law and order. As many as 1,604 accounts of political leaders, renowned individuals and organizations pertaining to religions, students and labour force are being monitored," he said.
"People should not take the situation lightly and post anything on social media which disturbs law and order. Six police personnel are closely monitoring social media for the past two months, and if it indicates any provocation to untoward incident strict action is taken. We are also coordinating with state intelligence," said the police commissioner.
"I appeal to the public to use social media in the right manner and not to misuse it, as it is a powerful tool. We have filed a suo motu case against 'Mangalore Muslims' page and a personnel blog for a post defending the murder of Harsha at Shivamogga. They have been booked under sections 153(a), 505 (b), 505 (c) of IPC and 66 (c), 66 (d) of IT Act. The process is on to trace the identity of the culprits and at the same time we are coordinating with the state intelligence to know the origin of the objectionable post. Mischief mongers who share, like, and comment on objectionable posts are equal participants in the crime. Ignorance of law is no excuse," he warned.
"We have desks in social media cell such as organisation desk which monitors organisations belonging to students, labour force, and religious organisations, online media desk which monitor online media portals, electronic, print media and many more. We even have a desk to check hate speeches, people behind those hate speeches, their logistic support and financial support, and document them all. Whenever misinformation is being spread, we fact check by coordinating with the state intelligence, even do pattern analysis," said Shash Kumar.
"We have identified 10 hotspots under every police station limit based upon violent incidents like stabbing, communal unrest and many more," he added.