Mail News Service
Imphal, Aug 20: A student from Manipur Sarid Ahmed of Lilong Turel Ahanbi was among those killed at New Jalpaiguri on Aug 18 last. His body will be brought to Imphal by air tomorrow.
Stepping up its drive against “erring” portals, government has ordered blocking of more than 250 websites in which morphed images and videos were uploaded to incite Muslims leading to exodus of people belonging to the northeast from Karnataka and some other states.
Home ministry officials said more than 130 websites have been blocked till now while the rest will be blocked shortly.
“We are planning to block some more sites,” an official said.
Government is also contemplating to take up the CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team-India) findings at the international forum as it has turned out to be the biggest instance of cyber warfare on India in recent times.
A Pakistan-based hardline group is suspected to have been involved in doctoring images and spreading them across social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and You Tube to incite Muslims and create scare among people of northeastern region living across India.
Most of the online content started getting posted from July 13 and fake profiles were created for spreading morphed pictures, according to a Home Ministry report prepared in the wake of mass exodus of people belonging to the north east from Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Mumbai following rumours about possible attack on them.
India is readying evidence on the alleged Pakistan-origin of morphed pictures of Assam violence which sparked an exodus of northeastern citizens from other states and plans to present it when External Affairs Minister SM Krishna goes to Islamabad next month for talks, sources said on Monday.
Krishna goes to Islamabad on a three-day visit on September 07 for talks with his counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar that will focus on reviewing the second round of dialogue that was revived early last year following a hiatus after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
The talks are expected to encompass all bilateral issues, including terrorism and Kashmir, but with recent disclosures about the role of Pakistan-based elements in using morphed internet images that triggered an exodus of northeastern people from other states, the issue is set to figure in the discussions.
Krishna is expected to take up the issue of morphed pictures as such incidents show that elements engaged in anti-India propaganda have continued to be active in Pakistan, said sources.
During the talks, India is also set to highlight the activities of Hafiz Saeed, the alleged 26/11 mastermind, who continues to spout anti-India rhetoric with impunity.
Such anti-India campaigns were not conducive to creating a healthy atmosphere for improved relations, said sources.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Monday said that the government would soon provide Islamabad with evidence of the involvement of Pakistan-based groups in whipping up panic that led to the exodus of Indians from North East in the country.
“India will give proof to Pakistan very soon on the involvement of Pakistani websites,” Shinde said.
Mizoram health minister Lalrinliana Sailo and Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and John Siamkunga who is also an MLA left Bangalore today in connection with the prevailing situation.
The Mizoram health minister and the Congress party chief of the state were sent by state chief minister Lal Thanhawla to stock of the situation and to render possible assistance to the Mizos there.
Lalrinliana Sailo and John Siamkunga, MLA will meet officials of Karnataka government and discuss on the problem that triggered the exodus of the Northeast people.
They will also meet Bangalore Mizo Welfare leaders and other organisations.
Meanwhile, Union Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has reportedly asked Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla over telephone to let the restriction of sending SMS by cell phone users to just 5 messages a day in order to curve the rumours doing the round. It is not confirmed whether the same has been directed to other state chief ministers.
Meanwhile, Mizo Students’ Association (MSA), Bangalore, Pune Mizo Welfare Association (PMWA) and Mizo Students’ Union, Pune (MSUP) in a joint press communique have expressed unhappiness over the insecure situation in the southern cities saying that the governments both the states and the Union are not doing enough to thwart the perceived threats.
On the other hand, Mizo leaders in Pune informed that the newly formed North East Community Forum had a meeting.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/manipur-youth-among-those-killed-at-new-jalpaiguri-govt-orders-blocking-of-250-websites/
