J&K: Doda district DM warns against false info on COVID-19

 The District Magistrate of Doda district in J&K has issued an order on Monday which said that no one is allowed to upload on Whatsapp any false information or unconfirmed fabricated news or rumour with regards to any positive coronavirus case in the district without confirmation from the district administration or any higher authority.

The order is to prevent of any disturbance of public tranquillity in the district, DM Sagar D. Doifode said.

"Violation by any Whatsapp administrator or any person shall be liable for action under Indian Penal Code in case any untoward incident/law & order situation disturbance to public tranquillity arises due to uploading/spreading of any false unconfirmed, fabricated news with regard to confirmation of positive novel coronavirus," the order said.

It further said the rumours are being flashed through social media platforms like Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram over positive coronavirus cases in Doda district, as a result "general masses in the area may panic which may lead to law and order problems."

"It is imperative to prevent the circulation of such false/unconfirmed news/information and rumours through Whatsapp groups and other social media platforms including Facebook etc," the order said.

The order further said that masks and sanitisers are essential items to combat coronavirus and all the proprietors of medical shops as well as wholesalers of medical agencies/stockists of such items functioning in Doda shall ensure that there should be no hoarding or no extra charging of these items in case of any violation by any retailer/wholesaler/stockist they will be liable for imprisonment and all the SHOs in the district are directed to take strict action against such violators under the relevant section of law. IANS