SRINAGAR: As pro-azadi protests and stone-pelting incidents go unabated in Kashmir Valley, a cyberwar is also under way which intensified on Tuesday when Facebook blocked some more pages of its users including that of key separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani or deleted posts, photographs and videos placed on these citing ‘community standards’.
Also, the Facebook page of a leading Srinagar English newspaper was hacked by a group which calls itself ‘Cyber Caliphate-black flags are coming’. Given the nature of posts, photographs and videos it posted on the page in quick succession, the hackers’ group owes allegiance to Daesh or ISIS. It also placed ‘Daulat e Islamia Iraq o Sham’s’ anthem and other ‘revolutionary’ and ‘rebellious’ songs on the newspaper’s hacked Facebook page to encourage ‘mujahedin’ or ‘holy fighters’ in Kashmir, promising them ‘dawn of freedom is about to break.
The newspaper’s Twitter account was also hacked for being interlinked with that of its Facebook page. “Muslims of Kashmir: Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you”, said a tweet on it from the hackers.
Another tweet said, “This is a warning to all the prestitutes of Kashmir, who have sold their conscience and for Indian salaries have...” A post warns J&K police “For the eunuchs of J&K Police, we know this is going to be a long war, a day will come when we will use kitchen knives, cars, buses against you and you would not even know what hit you”.
Earlier the online social networking site Facebook deleted the page of Mr. Geelani who said it (deletion) has taken place because he shared an image of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, Hizb-ul-Mujahedin commander killed by security forces on July 8 and whose social media campaign had an outreach among a section of Kashmiri Muslim youth.
Meanwhile, curfew was lifted from Srinagar and other cities and towns of the Valley from Tuesday morning but the respite which came after 17 days was marred by fresh protests and clashes in several parts of the summer capital.
Curfew, remained in force in Anantnag which had witnessed massive protests and an incident of arson on Monday till late afternoon “but has now been lifted”, police said. However, a report from Anantnag said that before the authorities announced lifting curfew, surging crowds had taken to the streets and soon clashed with security forces.
