Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

ISIS Whatsapp group operating in SL, not authentic

If someone was invited to join, they could not leave the group after joining

- BY DARSHANA SANJEEWA BALASURIYA

Although informatio­n was received in connection with a Whatsapp group suspected to be linked to Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), police said yesterday that the informatio­n provided regarding the Whatsapp group is not authentic.

An investigat­ion has been launched after the Western Province Intelligen­ce Division received informatio­n in connection to the Whatsapp group.

In that letter, Senior DIG in charge of Western Province and all senior officers of divisions in the province have been informed to be vigilant over the informatio­n.

It was reported that a Whatsapp group called ‘Interschoo­l’ is related to the ISIS and if someone was invited to join, they could not leave the group after joining.

The Director of the Western Province Intelligen­ce Division has instructed the Senior DIG Western Province that it would be appropriat­e for the relevant section to conduct a speedy investigat­ion into the informatio­n received by them on this Whatsapp group.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa told Dailymirro­r that police are monitoring all suspicious groups on social media which could be a threat to national security.

Accordingl­y the intelligen­ce units identified a similar Whatsapp group that could be suspected to be involved in an extremist group and therefore the relevant authoritie­s have taken action to investigat­e it immediatel­y.

The letter was being circulated on various social media and the Police Spokesman said that the informatio­n provided regarding the Whatsapp group is not authentic.

The public is advised to refrain from disseminat­ing such informatio­n through social media or any other means as it is an offence punishable under criminal law, SSP Thalduwa said.

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