Taking rumour-mongering incidents seriously, Patiala police have bookd two persons for creating confusion and spreading rumors about Corona pandemic and Corona warriors in the minds of the general public and arrested them for uploading videos and posts on various social media platforms. Giving more details, SSP Mr. Vikram Jeet Duggal said that strict action would be taken against those who used social media to create misconceptions and spread rumors about COVID pandemic.He said that at Tripuri police station, Greesh Bhatt son of Parmanand Bhatt, a resident of Ranjit Nagar, has been named in the first case registered under Section 188 of the IPC and Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act. The man uploaded a video on Instagram, spreading false rumors about the epidemic and doctors and Corona warriors. Police have arrested him and confiscated his mobile phone.Mr. Duggal further said that similarly at Police Station Civil Lines, Sarabjot Singh Sonu son of Ghulwinder Singh, a resident of Gobind Nagar, has been arrested in another case registered under Section 188 of the IPC and Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act. He had spread rumors by posting a message in a Facebook group in Patiala regarding testing of COVID-19 in the villages and was creating misconceptions about the health department teams and Corona warriors wgo are going to field.
Both the cases are being investigated by DSP City-2 Mr. Sourav Jindal. Mr. Duggal said that cases registered against such persons could be a major problem for them, so people should refrain from such actions which would create any kind of misconception or confusion among the people. He further said that Patiala police was keeping a close watch on such elements who were using various means of social media to spread misinformation on Covid-19 pandemic and Corona warriors including doctors, paramedics, police, Asha workers and others.Till now, District Police has registered 6 FIRs for spreading fake rumours regarding COVID including an FIR for attack on Doctors etc and 5 persons have been arrested in the above FIRs.Mr. Vikram Jeet Duggal appealed to the general public to cooperate with the teams of District Administration and Health Department for the success of the war being waged by the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh against COVID-19. He asked residents to inform about such elements on our whatsapp portal (96468-00112) besides dialing helpline numbers 0175-2350550 and 62843-57500 for seeking any clarification about any issue with regard to COVID-19.