Fake Twitter account of Manoj Sinha created to ‘spread rumours’; FIR lodged

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 9

Within days after his appointment as the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a fake twitter account was created in the name of Manoj Sinha to create confusion.

Taking serious note of this act, the cyber cell of J-K Police, on Sunday, registered an FIR under against unknown persons under the relevant provision of the law to start an investigation to identify the culprits.

Positing the profile of the fake account of LG, head of the cyber cell Tahir Ashraf tweeted: “This is a Fake Twitter handle in the name of Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha. Cognizance taken, FIR registered.”

Police sources said a fake account in the name of Manoj Sinha was created within hours after the announcement of his appointment was made and some tweets were also posted on this fake account related to the situation of Jammu and Kashmir.

“I am told that some Twitter handles impersonating my account are carrying fake news regarding the internet. Please note: I have NOT made any statement, fake handles have been reported for action, we will also be taking action under cyber-laws,” Kansal had tweeted after some fake news from his fake twitter handle was circulated in the month of April this year.

This is a Fake Twitter handle in the name of Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha. Cognisance taken FIR registered @Cyberpolicekmr. pic.twitter.com/Jt7H40zH5Q

— Tahir Ashraf (@Tahir_A) August 9, 2020

Interestingly, for the past two days, people were posting their grievances on this fake twitter handle hoping that their problems would be directly reached to the newly appointed LG.

Sources in the police said: “Announcement of Manoj Sinha’s appointment as Jammu and Kashmir LG was made on August 6 and within hours, a fake twitter account was created in his name to create confusion.”

 “Some anti-social elements have been using fake social media accounts of senior officers just to create confusion and chaos,” a source in the police said, adding: “Already, a number of such fake accounts have been deactivated.”

Earlier, some anti-social elements had created fake twitter accounts in the name of Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary Planning and spokesman of the Jammu and Kashmir government.

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