Alerted By Facebook, Assam Police Stops Girl From Committing Suicide

A girl who had posted on Facebook that she was going to commit suicide was saved by the police just in time after the social media giant's US-based headquarters alerted them.

"Info was received from Facebook last night that a minor girl had updated her status as- 'I am gonna to commit suicide today'. The child was located in 30 mins & her safety ensured. She & her family were counselled. She is safe and in their care," the Assam Police said in a tweet.

"The information was received from Facebook headquarters. A life was saved," police officials said.

The post was later deleted on police advice.

"Facebook had sent an alert to our nodal officer and he at once activated our social media centre and we were able to tracke the girl. Our field teams got activated and the family was traced. We counselled the girl and the guardian. The girl is safe and sound. This has been a great success of our social media initiative," said Harmeet Singh, additional director General of Police (ADGP) of Assam.

The Assam Police had launched its social media centre and its first-ever social media anti-rumour campaign - called Think - after last month's mob killing of two young men in the Karbi Anglong district over rumours that they were child abductors.

"The campaign is getting a very good traction on the internet and they has been very helpful for police to people outreach and also a far easier way for the common people to communicate with us," Mr Singh said.

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