Fake accounts taken down over J&K posts

NEW DELHI: Heightened tension between India and Pakistan over India’s decision to divest Jammu and Kashmir of its special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcate the state into two Union territories -- J&K and Ladakh -- is playing out in the cyber world as well.

At least 50 Twitter accounts masquerading as personal handles of senior Indian generals and commanders, for instance Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat and Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, “highlighting alleged atrocities” in Kashmir, have been shut down at the request of security agencies, said senior officials in the security establishment who didn’t want to be named.

“In the past 6 days at least 69 of my Indian soldiers have been killed in unprovoked fire by Pakistan Army,” according to a message posted on a fake Twitter handle in the name of a colonel.

Likewise, a post on a fake account passing off as that of former Vice –Chief of Army Staff Devraj Anbu said the effective revocation of Article 370 was a big mistake. Interestingly, a fake Twitter account in the name of former Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Purohit – the army officer who is accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and who is now out on bail – has also tweeted against the establishment.

Since August 5, there has been a sudden spike in the number of fake Twitter, Facebook and Youtube handles, a senior official said and added, “these are part of the effort to shape the information environment.” Intriguingly, some of the fake Twitter accounts were opened months in advance but had been dormant until August.