RANCHI, August 24 : The Ranchi Police cybercrime unit has issued a notice to X seeking user details, IP addresses and activity logs of an account linked to the ongoing JPSC-JSSC protests, alleging that the account repeatedly posted “false and fabricated” information about the actions of the Jharkhand government.
The notice, issued on August 22, concerns the X handle @JPSCreformanch, used by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, Ranchi cybercrime unit DSP Pankaj Kumar said on Monday.
Police have sought the account holder’s full name, residential address, contact numbers and registered email address, along with login and logout records and corresponding IP addresses for August 10 and the preceding days.
“The notice was issued to X in connection with a criminal investigation into the dissemination of false and misleading information,” Kumar said.
According to the cybercrime unit, the account was allegedly being used to continuously upload videos and photographs containing information that police described as false and fabricated regarding government actions.
The notice cites provisions concerning alleged public mischief, false information to a public servant and defamation, besides invoking a provision of the Information Technology Act.
The police action comes amid an extended student agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch has been leading the protests, with students demanding action over alleged examination irregularities and reforms in the recruitment process.
The notice follows three FIRs registered at Ranchi’s Kotwali police station against 14 named individuals and more than 200 unidentified persons in connection with allegations of obstructing government work and clashes with police during a protest on August 21.
Police, however, have not alleged that the X account was directly responsible for the clashes. The notice relates specifically to the alleged dissemination of false and misleading information through posts on the platform.
The development also follows a Ranchi Police advisory making prior permission mandatory for dharnas, demonstrations, processions, rallies and public meetings at public places.
Police have urged organisers to follow the prescribed procedure and appealed to citizens not to believe or circulate unverified information on social media.
The request for account and activity details forms part of the cybercrime investigation aimed at establishing the identity and activities associated with the account during the period under scrutiny
