Separatists in Northeast, J&K misusing Facebook: AK Antony

Defence minister AK Antony today acknowledged that separatists in North-East and Jammu and Kashmir are "misusing" social networking sites and said "proper corrective action" will be taken.

Responding to queries of mediapersons on "misuse" of social networking sites like Facebook by the separatists, the minister said, "We know people are misusing these but at the same time we are not going to take any hasty decision."

He refused to comment on limiting the access of social networking sites in the states where the services are being misused. "We will see, nothing has been decided now," he said.

Antony said "proper corrective action" will be taken after ascertaining the whole issue.

Of late, the separatist forces in J and K and North-East were found actively using social networking sites to spread their propaganda. With their membership increasing with each day, they also initiate online discussions and post their comments on issues like stone-pelting and others.

Antony will tomorrow start a two-day visit to North-East where he will visit important military stations in Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.

He would also take stock of infrastructure development programmes in the forward areas.