Spl units to rein in anti-nationals on social media
In a move to keep track on anti-national elements spreading malicious contents on social media, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Intelligence agencies to create groups and special units to examine terminologies and secret codes used in various languages for disseminating mischievous messages on social media.
“Create groups and special units to study and examine the mode terminology and secret codes, which are used by antisocial elements in various languages for disseminating mischievous messages on social media,” a top Government official told top security officers.
Following the direction of the PMO, the MHA has asked the Intelligence Bureau and State police forces to raise special units to combat the circulation of inflammatory content on social media.
In the present circumstances, it is difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor the flow of vitriolic messages masquerading as news or authentic information on encrypted messaging services, including WhatsApp.
Sources also said the Centre has planned to constitute a think tank to deal with security challenges and bring the deviants back in mainstream to counter radicalisation of youths by global and home-grown terror groups. The body would act as a “non-official” counter propagandist and help in cornering Muslim radicals by involving moderate clerics.
It has been found that the global organisations are now capable of reaching out to a large number of innocent youths and radicalising them.
During investigation of terror cases, investigative agencies have found that even important places have been given code names being used by anti-nationals. Fidayeen are called deposits, while detonators are called elaichi (cardamom). Dubai is called Dub and India is called Innd, while Delhi is called Cappt and Mumbai is Gaww. Gujarat is called Jejuu and Bhatkal is called Dehat by IM members, informed a source. A pistol is called ticket, an AK-47 assault rifle is termed reservation. A passport is termed Khaldy.
The PM recently expressed concerns over anti-social elements misusing social media to spread malicious content.