The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday registered a case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against people for defying government orders on use of social media. This came after the administration on January 14 had issued an order banning all social media sites in the Valley. “Taking serious note of misuse of social media, the cyber police station in Kashmir has registered a case against various social media users who defied government orders and misused social media platforms,” a polices pokesman said.

Social media is their “favourite tool” as it largely provides anonymity to the user and also gives wide reach, the spokesman said.

The FIR has been registered after taking cognisance of social media posts by miscreants through different virtual private networks(VPNs), he said.

Miscreants are propagating rumours with regard to the current security scenario of the Kashmir Valley, the spokesman said.

He said these posts are “propagating secessionist ideology and glorifying terror acts and terrorists”. Incriminating material has also been seized in this regard, spokesman said.