‘Accounts involved in making forged documents, spreading wrong info through fake order, impersonating as J&K officers’
Ishtiyaq Ahmed
Srinagar, April 3(KINS): Jammu and Kashmir Police’s cyber cell on Friday said that it has traced and identified dozens of fake account handles who were involved in series of “online crimes” including impersonating, forgery.
It also said that strict action that includes three year jail term under Indian Penal Code (IPC) was in offing for those involved in the cyber-crimes.
The cyber cell’s statement comes close on the heels of government spokesman Rohit Kansal’s tweet on Friday morning that a similar account to that of his official twitter handle was formed on social media by some people and they were spreading fake messages.
Kansal had urged people to stop fakes at this crucial stage of pandemic outbreak that has already claimed two lives in Kashmir and targeted nearly hundred people so far in J&K.
“Identifying fake social media accounts and handles wasn’t a cake walk. It is a difficult task and takes some time. We have already identified dozens of fake social media account handlers. Some of them have been called by us while many are not cooperating fully in the wake of Covid-19.” J&KP’s Cyber Cell in-charge Tahir Ashraf told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) over phone.
He said that they have identified three types of people involved in social crimes that includes impersonation—a person impersonating as a J&K government official and spreading wrong information to cheat others. “There are two strict acts—IPC 416 and 419 which includes punishment of three years imprisonment for the person involved,” the in-charge Cyber Cell said.
He said that second category of people involved in online crime is those who put across fake information through fake orders as seen recently.
A few days back, orders suggesting restoration of 4-G service with the signatures similar to J&K Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra were making rounds on social media. Later it was found that the order was fake. A series of fake orders have hit the social media amid the massive ongoing challenge of Covid-19 pandemic.
“For this (spreading fake information), section 505 IPC applies which also includes three year imprisonment,” he said, adding that there is a third category that is involved in forgery where in forged documents are made and circulated on social media. “Here, we take action under section 468 of IPC which also includes three year imprisonment,” he informed KINS.
He said that seven FIRs have already been lodged against the people involved in various online crimes. “Those involved in spreading false information in times of Covid-19 have been traced and we will act against them soon,” the cyber cell in-charge added. (KINS)
