In a bid to tighten the noose around offenders under the Information Technology (IT) Act and maintain communal harmony in the city, Senior Superintendent of Police Anish Gupta has directed all the police officials in Ranchi to spread awareness about the legal steps that can be taken against hate-mongers on social media. Gupta called for a quick meeting with senior officials and Officers In-Charge of all the police stations in Ranchi on Saturday late night and passed the directions.
“Basically, we will launch a drive targeted at the youth for spreading awareness against objectionable posts on social media. Student groups will be informed about the legal implications of sharing sensitive posts and also made aware about the legal actions they can initiate against hate mongers on social media,” Gupta said on Sunday.
The initiative comes hardly a fortnight after a 19-year-old B.Com (Hons) student was arrested from her residence in Pithoria and put in jail for allegedly posting objectionable content on her social media account. Richa Bharti’s arrest and the subsequent legal proceedings had triggered debates across the country. She is currently out on bail.
“Since students are most active on social media, they are the ones who need to be sensitized the most. Their involvement in checking hate-mongering on social media can be very effective,” Gupta said.
Besides keeping a tab on the social media and maintaining communal harmony, another objective for the impromptu meeting on Saturday night was to tighten the security arrangements for the upcoming festivals. Eid-Ul-Adha or Bakr Eid is likely to be celebrated on August 11, and the city police have been asked to maintain a vigil on the movement of trucks that ferry animals to the city for sacrifice during the festival, Gupta said.
“Officials from all the police stations here have been asked to maintain a vigil on the trucks that ferry animals to the city for sacrifice during the festival. As bovine slaughter is prohibited in Jharkhand, any person or group found selling cows, bulls, buffaloes or camels will be dealt with strictly,” said Gupta.
The Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, introduced in 2005 by a former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government here, prohibits slaughter or sacrifice of cows and calves. The ones found guilty of trading or slaughtering other animals such as horses and camels may be punished under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Food Safety and Standard Act, police said.