GUWAHATI: Guwahati city police commissioner
Hiren Chandra Nath fell prey to
cybercrime when a
Facebook account, purported to be his, surfaced on Monday. The discovery came amid a crackdown on social media rumour-mongers launched by Assam Police after two men were lynched because of social media rumours.
Assam Police headquarters declared the account as fake soon after it came to light. "A case has been registered at Panbazar police station. Investigation is on," Nath told TOI. The account, however, could not be found, at the time of filing this report and is believed to have been deactivated. tnn
"I do not have a Facebook account," the commissioner said.
In the aftermath of the Karbi Anglong lynching, when Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath were killed by a mob after social media rumours were circulated that they were child-lifters, police have been on the vigil regarding all social media activity.
"Strict action is being taken against all miscreants who indulge in activities that can breach public order and tranquility," Assam DGP Kuladhar Saikia said.
Assam Police have beefed up cyber patrolling, as part of which a tech-savvy team of cops will monitor online activity and take action if they come across anything objectionable. "We request citizens not to take part in spreading such messages and inform Assam Police on call or WhatsApp if they come across such hate messages to maintain peace and public safety," Assam Police tweeted after the killings.
(Representative image)