65 more web pages with offensive content blocked

In its attempt to remove all web pages carrying offensive content, in the light of the recent NE exodus in the country, the Indian government has blocked 65 more web pages - taking the count up to 310. Reports confirm that one of the blocked web pages was created in the name of cricketer Imran Khan's political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Times of India now reports that the blocked web pages were involved in spreading  hate messages and fake videos. Elaborating further, the report added that all the web pages that have been blocked were created between July 20-24, at a time when the disruptions at Kokrajhar and Chirang districts were at their peak. Interestingly, it has also been found that most of the web pages were uploaded on different host sites in Pakistan.  

Web pages with offensive content blocked (Image credit: Getty Images)

Also, a part of the blocked web pages list that have been known to have originated in Pakistan, were offensive 'postings' at www.yemtv.com as well as fake images using the name of Jammat-i-Islami Pakistan -  another Pakistani political outfit. Further, the report pointed that several web pages using the name of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) like tehreek-e-insaaf and tehreekeinsaaf.kohat were created. Quoting an official, the report added, "These have nothing to do with the original website of Imran Khan's PTI. It appears that the bloggers might have created this in the name of a celebrity ( Imran Khan) just to attract more page views. Investigation is going on to reach the real culprits in India where they picked up those morphed pictures and circulated them in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune and Mumbai to create panic among people of northeast region in the wake of Assam violence."

Interestingly, once it blocked these web pages, the government got in touch with Google and Facebook to give them server details, including IP addresses. It needs these details to show it as evidence to Pakistan. 

Earlier reports indicated that the government was working towards shutting down more than 250 websites in the light of the North-East exodus. It had been revealed  that the Centre had begun to come down heavily on the channels it believed were playing a role in triggering fear and leading to the widely reported NE exodus. It has been found that morphed images and videos were uploaded to these websites with an aim to incite the Muslim community in the country.

At the time, it had been found that a Pakistan-based hardline group carried out the task of doctoring the images and disseminated them through popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. A report by the Home Ministry had confirmed that the majority of the content appeared online on July 13. Reportedly, fake profiles were created to spread the morphed images.