Amid protest over the amended citizenship law, several rumors of alleged death of students and firing by police on protesters were circulated on social media sites. Delhi Police is now closely monitoring social media handles to check spread of wrong information in the national Capital.
According to a senior police official, police teams have been formed who are monitoring some social media accounts to check spread of misinformation.
“Several fake news and videos were circulated after violence at Jaima Millia Ismalia University and Seelampur. Appropriate action will be taken if anyone is found violating the law. We are monitoring Facebook and twitter accounts and identifying people for spreading fake news,” the senior police official said.
“Police teams are also scanning accounts that have circulated fake videos and spread rumors about deaths and firing in the city,” the senior police official added.
“A number of miscreants involved in Tuesday’s violence in North-East district of Delhi were identified and action will be taken against them after the assessment of video footage received from drone cameras,” said the senior police official.
“Eight people have already been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the violence at Jaffrabad and Seelampur during protests and three FIRs have been registered,” the senior police official added.
The police used the drones extensively during the violent protests in North-East district on Tuesday and their video footage is being assessed so that the miscreants involved in the violence could be identified and action taken.
The situation in Delhi is peaceful by and large, but prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 have been imposed in some localities in North-East Delhi, the official said.
Except at Road No 13 near the Jamia Millia Islamia University, now there is no protest anywhere in the city, another official said.
Besides, no protest is taking place in any of the 42 central universities in the country, the official said.
Students and local residents staged protests against the amended Citizenship Act at Jamia Millia Islamia University on Sunday, leading to violence and police action.
Violent protests were witnessed in North-East Delhi on Tuesday that forced police to use tear gas and resort to lathi charge, police said.
The government has not ordered any judicial inquiry on the incidents of violence, including those in Jamia, as the matter is sub-judice.
Under the new law, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. The act got the approval of Parliament and assented by the President last week.