Police registers 4 cases against fake news, rumours over COVID-19

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 7, 2020

The state police have registered four cases against spreading of fake news relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Informing this here on Tuesday, Assistant Inspector General of Police (A) GK Iangrai said three cases have been registered in cyber crime police station and one case was registered in Williamnagar police station against rumour mongers, under the relevant provisions of Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act and National Disaster Management Act.

Out of the four cases, three cases have been registered after the applications which have been received through the Fake News Verification Portal have been verified to be fake news, Iangrai said.

The AIGP said that a content which was uploaded in a facebook page “Ka Sur U Paidbah” has been found to be fake news and hence a case has been registered.

Similarly, the other cases which have been registered include a post regarding a person who has been infected with COVID-19, a post regarding the WHO protocol & procedures for lockdown and several other fake news, he said.

He also regretted that despite several appeals to the general public to refrain from propagating or circulating of fake news or rumours relating to the disease, some individuals have disregarded the appeal and uploaded and posted contents which were found to be fake news.

“The citizens of the state are hereby requested to kindly desist from uploading/circulating contents without verifying the authenticity of the content,” Iangrai said.

To verify information regarding COVID-19, citizens are also requested to make use of the online portal hosted in the department’s website http://www.megpolice.gov.in.