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Saturday, 19 November 2011

Kashmir erupts over anti-Islam Facebook page

Srinagar, Nov 18 (IBNS) The anti Islamic page posted on social networking website Facebook has created uproar in Kashmir Valley and from last two days the anger is brewing among Kashmiri youths. Meanwhile, cyber crime sleuths of J&K Police are on the red alert and some arrests are likely to be made in the next 24 hours.

The Facebook page titled 'This Dog will get more fans than Syed Ali Shah Geelani', allegedly the brain child of few Christian youths, was spotted a few days ago on the social networking website with anti-Islamic content.

Authorities feel that attempts are being made to disturb the peace in Valley.

People in large numbers gathered in different parts of Valley especially in Karan Nagar, Chana Pora, Saraibal, Nowhatta, Kral Pora in Srinagar demanding stern action against the operator of the page.

“We want the operator of this page to be hanged and exposed. Why the Jammu and Kashmir Police are silent and why they are not able to track down the 'bloody operator' of this anti-Islamic page,” a protestor told IBNS in Srinagar.

Bilal Ahmed, another protestor, said that at first he thought the page was created to defame Hurriat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani but “as soon as I went through it, I was aghast. I was so disturbed that I logged off. How can one play with the religious sentiments of the people and I just want to know who these ‘rascals’ are.”

Senior hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani had called for post Friday prayer protests against the blasphemous posts on Facebook. However, according to sources, he was placed under house arrest.

Meanwhile, protests rocked Srinagar city soon after Friday prayers.

In Maisuma locality of Srinagar city, youths pelted stones on police and the clashes were going on when this report was being filed.

Police arrested two youths who were allegedly involved in stone pelting. They have been identified as Ishtiaq Ahmed and Mohammad Owais.

Despite the heavy deployment of police and security forces, the downtown area of Srinagar city witnessed heavy stone pelting incidents.

Protestors complained that one of such pages had crossed all limits as “extremely offending” sketches and slogans had been posted to hurt religious sentiments of the population in Kashmir.

They pointed out that entire Internet traffic in India is being regulated and monitored either by government’s own telecommunication companies like Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) or the registered private telecommunication companies.

Besides, there was regular surveillance on all Internet operations by Department of Telecommunication, Ministry of Home Affairs of Government of India, Central and state intelligence agencies and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

While talking to IBNS, separatist leader and the chairman of Nationl Front, Nayeem Khan, said that those youths who express their anger against India on Facebook are immediately being traced and arrested and why not the operators of this objectionable page are not being exposed.

“If police and other state authorities claim to track operators of anti-national and separatist websites and Facebook pages, why don’t they who who the hell is running these anti-Muslim pages on Facebook?” Khan told IBNS.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, told IBNS that police took cognizance late last night and today it got the “highly objectionable page” blocked with the help of union Ministry of Home Affairs and union Ministry of Communication in New Delhi.

“We have blocked this page and it is nowhere available now. We are investigating the matter and those responsible will be severely punished,” the SSP said.

He confirmed that cyber surveillance had been immediately increased to ensure that nobody got an opportunity to foment trouble and mistrust among the local population, particularly the youth.

Today’s expressions against the Facebook pages included slogans against some recent incidents of conversions.

Mirwaize Molve Mohammad Omar Farooq has called All Religious Party meet on 21st of this month in which according to sources the role of Christian missionaries in Kashmir Valley will be discussed.

Highly placed sources told IBNS that chief priest Khanna has admitted before the Islamic Court that they were able to convert many young men of Valley into Christianity and now they have decided to stop their activities.

(Reporting by Neyaz Elahi)

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