Kishtwar, Dec 29 Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained a man for allegedly uploading a video of a stone-pelting incident in Kishtwar and attempting to give it a “communal angle,” officials said.

The incident occurred on Sunday in the jurisdiction of Police Post Padyarna, following an altercation between two communities that resulted in minor injuries. The dispute reportedly began when members of one community were transporting wooden logs from the forest, and one log accidentally slipped near a madrasa.
Kishtwar Police registered an FIR under Sections 125, 125(a), and 191(2) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha (BNS) Code and initiated an investigation. On Monday, another FIR under Section 353 BNS was filed against the man who allegedly posted the video online, claiming it was an attack on a religious place and thereby disturbing public peace. The police urged the public to exercise caution on social media and warned that anyone spreading false or inflammatory content would be dealt with strictly under the law.
The incident drew strong reactions from political leaders. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah condemned the stone pelting and called on the central government to guide states in preventing attacks on religious institutions. Former minister and senior Congress leader C.M. Saroori described the act as “unacceptable” and urged the police to clarify facts to prevent misinformation. He also requested patience from the public and confirmed that the Shaura Committee would personally visit the site to assess the situation.
BJP Kishtwar leader Jahanzeb Sarwal similarly condemned the stone pelting, calling it harmful to communal harmony and demanding an impartial investigation to identify the culprits.
In response to growing concerns over misinformation, District Magistrate Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, imposing strict regulations on unregistered online news portals, self-styled media personnel, and social media news pages. The order noted that unverified platforms are contributing to unrest by spreading misleading and inflammatory content.
Authorities emphasized that the police are investigating the incident thoroughly and assured that action will be taken against anyone attempting to exploit the situation to spread communal tensions.
This move highlights the administration’s effort to balance freedom of expression with maintaining public order, particularly in sensitive regions prone to communal sensitivities.