Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district have imposed a two-month ban on unregistered online news portals and taken strict action against social media misuse following a clash between two groups. The decisive steps aim to prevent the spread of misinformation and maintain public order.
District Magistrate Issues Immediate Restrictive Order
In response to the urgent situation, Kishtwar District Magistrate Pankaj Kumar Sharma issued an ex-parte order on Monday, December 30, 2025. The directive, effective immediately, prohibits all unregistered online news portals and social media platforms from publishing or circulating any news or current affairs content within the district unless they comply with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The order, passed in view of the urgency, will remain in force for two months. To ensure enforcement, the District Information Officer has been given seven days to submit a verified list of all registered and unregistered online news entities operating in Kishtwar. The Senior Superintendent of Police has been tasked with strict implementation. Additionally, cyber cafe operators must now enforce strict identity verification and maintain proper user records.
Clash and Detention Over 'Misleading' Video
The chain of events began on Sunday, December 29, when an altercation erupted between two groups under the jurisdiction of the Padyarna police post. Police stated the incident started when members of a community were transporting logs from a jungle. One log slipped and fell near a madrassa, leading to an argument that escalated into stone-pelting from both sides. Several people sustained minor injuries.
An FIR was registered under sections 125, 125(a), and 191(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation was initiated. However, the situation was exacerbated when a person from Kishtwar uploaded a video of the incident on social media. Police said the video falsely claimed it was an attack on a religious place, attempting to give a communal colour to the clash and disturb public peace.
Consequently, the J&K Police detained the individual allegedly responsible for uploading the "misleading video." A separate FIR under section 353 of the BNS was registered at Kishtwar police station in connection with this act.
Public Advisory and Broader Implications
In an official advisory, the police have urged the general public to exercise utmost caution and responsibility while using social media and other digital platforms. They warned that anyone found involved in spreading misinformation or content that could incite violence would be dealt with strictly according to the law.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by administrations in regulating digital content to prevent the escalation of local incidents into larger communal tensions. The swift administrative and legal actions in Kishtwar underscore a firm approach towards curbing the spread of fake news and maintaining harmony in the region.
