Meta takes down social media handles of prominent Jammu and Kashmir news outlets

Social media handles of several news outlets based in Jammu and Kashmir were taken down on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) by Meta, which runs Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The move came in the wake of widespread protests in J&K for the past three days over the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei on February 28.

The affected outlets include prominent Srinagar-based organisations such as the Greater Kashmir, Rising Kashmir and Kashmir Life.

In a statement, Kashmir Life, said its verified Facebook and Instagram pages “became inaccessible in India on Monday (March 2, 2026) afternoon after Meta restricted access at the request of law enforcement authorities”.

Quoting the Meta’s response, the news portal said the handles “were restricted under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000”. 

Kashmir Life, in the statement, said it was “a professionally managed organisation that has been in operation for 17 years”. “It upholds the highest standards of journalism and is a major responsible media outlet operating in Jammu and Kashmir. The organisation has written to Meta seeking detailed clarification regarding the specific grounds, scope, and duration of the restriction, as well as the procedural options available for review or redressal,” it said.

End censorship: Mehbooba

Former J&K Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti decried the move. “The censorship of news organisations such as Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Life, and Rising Kashmir, is deeply concerning. Such actions not only silence legitimate voices but also undermine the fundamental right to freedom of expression. The J&K government must also immediately end any censorship of media in the region,” Ms. Mufti said.

Ms. Mufti said when established media voices are sidelined, the resulting void is often filled by obscure or unreliable sources, which can distort public discourse and erode trust in journalism.

She urged Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, J&K Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah “to review the situation urgently and reinstate these accounts”. “Upholding press freedom is essential for a healthy democracy and maintaining public trust,” she added.

PDP leader and legislator Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi said, “Restricting or suppressing lawful reporting during critical periods only deepens public mistrust. Silencing the press is not a solution, it is a step backward.”

J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) leader and legislator Sajad Lone said the absence of mature institutions “will do more harm”. “At times, it has been seen that the space vacated by responsible institutions can be filled by unknown entities, further harming the cause of a free and responsible media. The administration should unblock the handles,” Mr. Lone said.

Police warning

Earlier, the J&K Police said it took “serious cognisance of the deliberate circulation of false, fabricated, and misleading information by certain news channels, media outlets, and individuals across electronic and social media platforms”.

The police also lodged a first information report (FIR) in this regard. “Several profiles have been identified, and the individuals concerned have been summoned to the Cyber Cell. Investigation is actively under way, and strict legal action will follow against anyone found involved,” the police said. It warned against spreading fake news, inflammatory content, or unverified information. “It will invite stringent legal consequences,” the police said.