PSA against rumour mongers disturbing law & order, security of State: DC Rajouri

RAJOURI, MAY 25: Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has ordered magisterial probe into incident of rumour spread on social media about bus accident causing death of more than 40 students near Chhatapani on Mughal road in Poonch.

The rumour spread by credible persons on WhatsApp groups lead the administration in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri on high alert.

The information was also sent to control rooms regarding incident by some people which lead to massive evacuation and rescue efforts. More than a dozen vehicles including ambulances were rushed from Rajouri to reported spot of accident while a similar effort was made by Poonch district as well.

Officers of district administration contacted the owner of private school in Manjakote and thereafter driver of vehicle which was reported to be safe and on way back nearly within an hours after report of accident was spread.

Additional District Magistrate, Mumtaz Ali will conduct the magisterial probe to identify the persons involved in this planned mischief which spread in electronic and social media like a wildfire.

ADM will be assisted by Addl SP Yousaf Choudhary, DIO NIC Sanjay Puri, ARTO Rajouri and General Manager Telecom. The team will also seek assistance from Cyber Wing of Police Department.

Magisterial enquiry was ordered after preliminary verification revealed involvement of some people who circulated the unverified news on WhatsApp groups in twin districts which was also traced to a private school and some news groups. More than a dozen persons have been shortlisted for initial questioning to trace the originator(s) of rumour regarding accident.

Pertinently, District Administration, Police, Army, Airforce and all agencies were on high alert and initiated rescue and evacuation operation involving massive operations.

Deputy Commissioner Rajouri briefed that persons involved in spreading such a serious kind of rumour are definitely guilty of disturbing security of State and law & order. Such practices if not controlled at this stage could take alarming proportions to cause irreparable damage over controversial issue, he added. It is contemplated to slap Public Safety Act against culprits involved in this incident.