Punjab CM orders crackdown on spreading fake information on Covid-19

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday directed the DGP Dinkar Gupta to crack down on all rumour-mongers and web channels spreading misinformation among the people about the Covid-19 pandemic.

 Captain also asked DGP to monitor statements being issued by anti-India operators working from abroad and to register cases against all such people, wherever they might be located, who are found spreading rumours on social media and web channels.

The Chief Minister directed the DGP to initiate the process of getting these entities banned in India.

The directives came even as the Punjab Police continued to register cases against rumor-mongers across the state.

The DGP informed that 8 FIRs have been registered over the past 10 days (from August 27 to September 7) against those spreading rumours and floating/circulating false and misleading videos that are hampering the people fight against coronavirus, and also preventing the people from availing of proper medical treatment at public and private health facilities.

FIRs have been registered in Patiala, Ferozepur, Mansa, SAS Nagar, Ludhiana-Rural, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Moga.

Gupta said that criminal cases have also been registered in Ludhiana and Phagwara (Kapurthala) against people holding parties despite the government’s prohibitory orders against all such gatherings.

So far, 54 persons have been arrested for holding a Pool Party in Ludhiana and 17 persons have been arrested in Phagwara, he disclosed.