Identify all fake portals

For the first time, the administration has taken steps to ban the fake portals in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir as more than six portals allegedly peddling fake news and maligning the image of the Jammu and Kashmir government were banned. It has been reported that these portals have been banned after verifying the credentials of their operators from the police and information department following a large number of complaints from people and public servants regarding harassment by them. There are several portals that are out to not only harass the public, but also malign the image of journalists as well. These portals need to be stopped forthwith from spreading a negative narrative among the masses. It is unfortunate that authorities concerned have so far failed to take action against all such fake portals to ensure that the image of journalists and media organizations are not maligned by these vested interests. There are a couple of incidents when even the government officials claimed harassment by the so-called media persons, but unfortunately nothing has been done in this regard. There is a need to prevent more damage to this sacred profession and all those who are hell-bent to malign the image of journalists should be identified and exposed so that the appropriate action against the persons involved is taken to the task. The government should also play its role in identifying all these fake portals and ban them at earliest.