Srinagar, in a recent development, the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued directives to online news outlets and social media pages in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), mandating adherence to policy guidelines established in 2021 aimed at regulating media in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, local authorities have ordered all online news portals and social media pages to comply with the “Code of Ethics” as part of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. This order is a continuation of efforts by the Modi regime to exercise control over the dissemination of news and information in the disputed territory.

The directive emphasizes the importance of verification and accountability in the publication of news and current affairs content. It specifies that any failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in punitive action under the Indian Penal Code and other applicable legal frameworks.

The order, which has come into immediate effect, indicates that any violation will invite punitive measures under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, along with other relevant legal provisions. This move has heightened concerns about freedom of the press and the right to free speech in the region.

The imposition of these guidelines in IIOJK marks a significant step in the Indian government’s ongoing efforts to regulate media content in the region, which has been a subject of longstanding political and territorial dispute.