Police seek social media help to nab hate mongers

The police have written to social media platforms to trace the IP addresses of the devices that were used to spread hatred and rumours to create disharmony and division in society over the past one month in Shimla and the state as well.

To move court

• To move court regarding cops hurt in stone-pelting by protesters in Sanjauli
• “We have prepared a list of 200 people, who have either shared such messages or have instigated others.,” said SP, Shimla, Sanjeev Gandhi.
• The police suspect that some of the people on the list were paid to spread hate messages.

“We have prepared a list of 200 people, who have either shared such messages or have instigated others. Our nodal officers have written to the social media platforms such as “X”, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to trace and share the IP addresses of the devices used by these people,” said SP, Shimla, Sanjeev Gandhi. The police suspect that some of the people on the list were paid to spread hate messages.

Meanwhile, a month has passed since a protest was held in Sanjauli against an illegal construction in a mosque. Four or five police personnel were injured when some people among the protesters pelted them with stones. As per the police, the stone-pelters have been identified and FIRs registered against them. “Expert medical opinion regarding the injuries suffered by the police personnel is still awaited. Once we get it, we will move forward according to the law. We will then send the case to court with concrete evidence to ensure the guilty people are punished,” the SP said.

Even as the police are gathering relevant material to build a case, some people belonging to the majority community are calling upon others to boycott vegetable and fruit vendors belonging to a minority community in the Sanjauli market of Shimla. They have even distributed posters with ‘Sanatan Sabji Wala’ written on them to the vendors belonging to the majority community. “We are examining the incident legally. Prime facie, it’s an attempt to spread disharmony and create a division in society. We are looking at it and FIRs registered in this case will be clubbed with the ones we have already filed,” Gandhi said.

Former Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said that such activities were violative of the law of the land and the authorities concerned should take immediate and strict action against those involved in it. “Such activities bring a bad name to the state. Not only these will impact harmony in the city and the state but will also hit tourism,” said Chauhan, adding that the livelihood of thousands of people in the capital city would be ruined.