Assam: To curb COVID-19 related fake-news, district admin plans stern measures

Keeping a hawk’s eye on the circulation of fake news, the Hailakandi district administration in Assam said that it would take stringent action against those who circulate such misinformation related to the COVID-19 on the social media platform.

“Such acts will not be tolerated as it might trigger panic among people amid this pandemic. Stern action will be taken against them under relevant provisions of the law,” said MN Dahal, Deputy Commissioner of the district while appealing the people to desist from spreading misinformation.

Also read: Assam Congress president Ripun Bora, his wife sent to quarantine

Moreover, talking about the return of the people of the district stranded in different parts of the country, the deputy commissioner said, “Under no circumstances, the inbound persons coming from outside the state would be allowed to step out during the mandatory quarantine period of 14 days. Those put under home quarantine will have to remain indoors with the rest of the members of the family for 14 days.”

Dahal said that the quarantined people are being closely monitored by the district administration and the police.

The DC also said that a village level home quarantine committee headed by the gaon panchayat president and consisting of GP Secretary, ASHA, MPW, ANM, Anganwadi worker, and two leading citizens has been constituted in each Gaon Panchayat to keep hawk's eye on the home quarantined persons and to ensure all necessary arrangements for them.

Also read: ‘Stitched by local women’: Mask distribution campaign undergo at Dimapur

It may be mentioned that the Assam police has been strictly monitoring the social media platform to prevent the spread of fake news since the nationwide lockdown was enforced in the country on March 25 initially for 21 days to mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Assam has registered a total of 214 confirmed coronavirus cases while four deaths due to the infection so far followed by Tripura with 173 cases. On the other hand, Sikkim has not registered any positive case yet.

Meanwhile, the virus has infected over 1 lakh people and claimed over 3000 lives so far, Among the states, Maharashtra registered highest positive cases and causalities so far.

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