FIA asked to monitor social media

LEAs in fear of the spread of false information in the wake of Hyderabad rioters

KARACHI:

In the aftermath of the riots which erupted as a result of the murder of a youth in Hyderabad, police have requested the FIA to monitor certain activity on social media to stop the spred of false information.

On Saturday, Sindh Inspector General Police Ghulam Nabi Memon wrote a letter to the FIA DG, requesting him to take legal action against miscreants spreading tension on social media.

The letter, available with The Express Tribune, states that after the murder in Hyderabad, some miscreant groups toom to social media and started spreading rancorousness which triggered the ethnic tensions

The law enforcement agency decided to take such action after their attention was drawn to posts riddled with allegedly false, or unverifiable information. Police also strictly asked social media users not to spread ethnic tensions between Sindhis and Pakhtuns in different cities.

On Friday, messages were circulating on different social media groups and messaging apps including WhatsApp. They claimed various areas of the port city would be blocked after afternoon prayers.

Soon after the clash erupted in different areas near Sohrab Goth, similar news was shared that created a tense situation and caused multiple challenges for LEAs. Law enforcers faced further backlash after claims of two young girls being kidnapped during riots near the Jamali Bridge.

Top police officials denied any abduction and asked the social media activists not to spread false stories which could further aggravate the tension.

"I request you to issue necessary instructions to Director Cyber Crime Wing of FIA Sindh Zone to strictly monitor such illegal activities and take stern action to discourage conspiracies on linguistic grounds," IG Memon's letter stated.

Police said that following the Hyderabad incident, at least 15 untoward incidents took place in different areas of the province. They said 90 people were arrested in 12 FIRs.

Appealing to citizens to stop spreading rumours, Memon said urged people not to take false information seriously.

Situation in the area

Law enforcement agencies EAs were deployed at various points in tensed areas, including Sohrab Goth, Jamali Bridge, Northern Bypass and continued patrolling main roads and streets to protect common citizens.

"The situation is under control and police will remain vigilant till this tension prevails," a police official, deployed near Jamali Bridge, told The Express Tribune.

Some of the shops, including restaurants, remained closed while others were open amid security deployment. Locals, however, feared further violence.

"We are still in tension as the miscreants could strike again," said Bhagwani, a resident near the area. "Dozens of people came to this area and attacked our men and women," she elaborated.

She added that the attackers also threw stones at their shanties, injuring several people.

"A group of people attacked me and when I tried to run, they threw stones at me, narrated Sagar, another resident, showing the injuries on his feet.

He said that his cart was also looted during the attacks. "They were attacking and looting. It was a strange situation," he said. "I cannot comprehend why they attacked us. We are such poor people and do not have any link with any group," he cried.

The villagers also complained that neither the police nor any other officials visited or inquired about the attack. "We just want peace and nothing else."

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2022.