Mansehra police set up cell to monitor social media

MANSEHRA: The Police Department on Saturday constituted an Information Technology (IT) Monitoring Cell to oversee and take legal action against social media influencers, YouTubers, and TikTokers uploading sacrilegious and sectarian content.

“This IT Monitoring Cell will ensure swift legal action against those using social media platforms to hurt religious and sectarian sentiments and challenging societal values through fake or misleading content,” District Police Officer (DPO) Shafiullah Khan Gandapur told reporters here.

He said the cell, being established under his supervision, would monitor social media content around the clock, and individuals involved in spreading religious or sectarian hatred would be brought to justice under strict applicable laws.

“We have also acquired technical and geo-fencing support in collaboration with the FIA and other law enforcement agencies to curb the misuse of social media platforms,” Gandapur said.

Referring to a recent incident where a woman and her daughter were murdered in the name of honour, he pointed out that certain social media platforms wrongly portrayed the case as a sectarian conflict, potentially inciting religious unrest.

“We cannot allow a handful of individuals to disturb the peaceful environment of the district and the rest of the country through such fabricated content,” the DPO added.