In a first of its kind in the country, a district magistrate in Kashmir issued a circular mandating registration of WhatssApp groups in the valley on Monday.
The circular issued by DM of Kupwara comes close to the heels of incidents of violence at Handwara.
The circular suggested that every WhatsApp group admin has to register their group within 10 days with the DM’s office.
In the circular government employees were asked to refrain from commenting on this move or else expect ‘stringent action’.
After registration, all the admins of WhatsApp group will be held responsible for messages leading to ‘untoward’ incident, read the circular and subsequent legal action will be taken against the admins.
These are some of the reaction on Twitter on the issue
Why do we need a regulator if police can decide licensing issues for applications? Also, S.79 of IT Act https://t.co/MBL1vJdVps
— Mishi Choudhary (@MishiChoudhary) April 19, 2016
Running a WhatsApp Group in Kashmir requires a license. Ok.
— Shubham Agarwal (@phonesoldier) April 19, 2016
Is there sports quota in Whatsapp licences. #Kashmir #WhatsappLicence
— Rich Autumns (@RichAutumns) April 19, 2016
Where can I apply for license to use @Whatsapp in #Kashmir ? Are we gonna have a Regional Whatsapp Officer to issue those? :D
— Fouad Farooq (@fouadfarooq) April 19, 2016
Hey, @whatsapp, do you know we in #Kashmir have to own a license to operate a news group? #WhatsAppLicense
— رؤف بٹ (@RoufBhat_) April 19, 2016
Its unfair, the govt babus will get Whatsapp licences much faster and common people will have to wait. #Sufarish #Kashmir
— Rich Autumns (@RichAutumns) April 19, 2016
#LOL .... Whatsapp to add third Tick Mark to be used by India in #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/qmxppcuBJL
— कश्मीरी کوشر (@TheKashmiris) April 19, 2016