New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police is on constant alert mode "as long as required" and also keeping an eye on various social media platforms to quell rumours and fake messages in the wake of the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case, DGP O P Singh said on Tuesday.
He added that 70 people have been arrested for rumour- mongering in the state and more than 270 social media accounts reported for further action.
The top cop of the state said despite the verdict coming out last week every district is on a "high state of preparedness" and no untoward incident has been reported so far.
"The eight police zones are working at macro-strategic levels. Additional DGs are effectively coordinating action among zonal districts along with CAPFs and other departments in their jurisdictions," he said.
"At the district level, each district has been divided into zones and sectors for focused response. We shall be on alert mode for as long as would be required," Singh said. The Director General of Police (DGP) said a special team has been tasked to check messages and contents being published on various social media platforms in order to quell rumours and counter them with facts.
"We have a social media cell at the headquarters (in state capital Lucknow) which is headed by a Superintendent of Police-rank officer. This cell coordinates with district social media cells. They take cognisance of messages tagged to them, or even otherwise, and get the objectionable content removed and follow up with necessary legal action," he said.
All major platforms, Singh said, are being monitored. "Fake news is quickly verified and a rebuttal issued, often by district SPs. Advisories against spreading rumours have been issued from the highest level. We have arrested more than 70 persons and reported more than 270 accounts," the DGP said.
In addition, he said, about 3-lakh digital volunteers have been roped in to report fake news and to disseminate the factual version. A dedicated number —8874327341— has been publicised where people can report motivated or fake posts, he said.