In view of recent communal tensions between two communities at Saharanpur in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, State Additional Director General of Police (law and Order) Ram Singh Meena said that police are also watching the social media sites and will take action under IT Act against those caught uploading controversial photographs or statements on the internet.
Meena said that police at the border areas with Saharanpur district have been put on high alert and they have been directed to monitor the situation closely. He further said that the district police heads of Haridwar, Dehradun and Udham Singh Nagar were issued directives to be on high alert and additional forces have already been deployed in areas bordering Saharanpur,
crowded areas, mixed population areas and other sensitive places within the districts.
"Continuous monitoring of the situation in Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun is being done by senior police officers," he added. Social media is being used to spread messages across the globe, but anti-social elements may use this medium to spread hatred to communalise the situation in sensitive and mixed population areas. In view of this, he appealed to the youth not to upload any controversial photographs or statements on the internet which may create communal tensions at various places within the State and other parts of the country. People were also urged not to believe in controversial statements or pictures uploaded by anti-social elements on the internet. However, police have not received any complaints regarding such content on the internet so far.
As a precautionary measure, police officers have been directed to keep an eye on social networking sites. Action will be taken under IT Act against those who are caught attaching controversial photographs or statements on the internet, he warned.
He further said that in order to maintain law and order situation and restore confidence among the people about their security, district police officers have been directed to intensify patrolling and launch vehicle checking drives at important intersections in their district.
The police officers have been directed to initiate measures for maintaining law and order as anti-social elements may get active in mixed population areas in the districts. Meena claimed that situation in the State is under control and police officers are monitoring the situation closely.
In another development, the members of Sikh community protested in Bazpur, Udham Singh Nagar and Rishikesh, Dehradun and demanded action against the criminals who allegedly conspired to engineer riots against Sikhs in Saharanpur. The protesters also demanded adequate compensation to the kin of the families who lost their life in the riot in Saharanpur.