A Srinagar-based news portal, The Kashmir Walla, on Sunday claimed that its website and social media handles have been barred from access in India by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IT Act, 2000.
“When we contacted our server provider on Saturday morning to ask why thekashmirwalla.com was inaccessible, they informed us that our website has been blocked in India by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under the IT Act, 2000. We discovered that our Facebook page – with nearly half a million followers – had been removed. As had our Twitter account, ‘in response to a legal demand’,” a statement issued by The Kashmir Walla said.
It said the organisation was not aware of the specifics of why its website has been blocked in India; why its Facebook page has been removed; and why its Twitter account has been withheld. “We have not been served any notice nor is there any official order regarding these actions that is in the public domain so far,” it said.
