India blocks 32 websites used for Jihadi propaganda

In a statement, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has said the move has been taken following a court order and a request of the Anti Terrorism Squad of Mumbai police.

"Additional Director General of Police, Anti Terrorism Squad, M.S., Mumbai on 15/11/2014 requested blocking of 32 number of websites / pages which were being used for Jihadi Propaganda.  It was stated that Anti National group are using social media for mentoring Indian youths to join the Jihadi activities.

"These websites work on page hosting concept.  Many of these wbsites does not require any authentication for pasting any material on them.  Other upload articles, Videos or photos or to download the contents which helps to hide the identities.  These websites were being used frequently for pasting, communicating such content by just changing page name even blocking the earlier one," said the statement.

The blocked sites included weebly.com, vimeo.com, dailymotion.com and  gist.github.com.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate also issued the order on 10.11.2014 for blocking of these 32 websites on urgent basis. Blocking of the websites was ordered in compliance with court order. Contact has also been made with some of the websites. 

These websites have undertaken not to allow pasting of such propaganda information on their website and also work with the Govt. to remove such material as per the compliance with the laws of land.  The action has been initiated to unblock the following sites:

It has, however, said four of these websites have been unblocked after 'compliance with the law of the land.'

Media report said the site were used to lure Indian youth to join ISIS and for spreading news about the purported death of certain persons while fighting allied forces in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq.