Mumbai, Aug 31 (IANS): The information war unleashed by Pakistan-based fake news "factory" following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution has now caught the attention of the Maharashtra Cyber Cell.
The disinformation emanating from across the border is being spread on all possible platforms, according to Brijesh Singh, Special Inspector General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber Cell.
"Concerted wave of disinformation from Pakistan on all possible platforms. Please do not fall prey to #FakeNews. There is a factory running across the border churning videos, messages and pictures by thousands," Singh said in a tweet on Friday.
The rumour mills are working overtime to create fake accounts on social media. These accounts often use India names to appear genuine to Indian readers.
They often pick old videos and messages and edit the content or caption to change the context and pass them off as incidents of atrocities in the Valley.
Several verified accounts in Pakistan have also been found spreading fake news.
Fact checkers are busting false information almost on a daily basis. Even journalists and ministers from Pakistan have been found to spread fake news.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police earlier this month said they took up with Twitter the "malicious content" posted by senior Pakistani lawmaker Rehman Malik who had tweeted that the Indian Army was using "helicopter gunships" to fire on villagers in Kashmir.
"This malicious content is strongly rebutted. We have taken up matter with @TwitterSupport," the Jammu and Kashmir Police tweeted, tagging the posts of Malik.
Prasar Bharati, via its Twitter account, has also begun showing how fake videos being circulated are attempting to spread a false narrative on Jammu and Kashmir.
One of the videos is of an apple tree being cut down in Himachal Pradesh. But the video is being shared with an Urdu caption alleging that apple trees are being chopped down en masse in Jammu and Kashmir by the government following revocation of Article 370, in an effort to instil fear among the people. Apple orchards are a major source of revenue for the people of J&K.