NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID 19):FIRs To Be Registered Against Those Spreading False News & Rumours.

• ONE YEAR IMPRISONMENT & FINE UNDER SECTION 54 OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT

Ludhiana,March 21, Channel88News (Buero) :- In view of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19), some unscrupulous elements are spreading false news & rumours on social media. As such acts cause panic amongst the masses, they would not be tolerated. The District Administration has now decided to take strict action against all such persons.

In a letter sent to District Public Relations Officer, Ludhiana, Deputy Commissioner Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal has urged the media to play a positive role and assist the District Administration. He has urged all the media persons of district Ludhiana to assist the District Administration in handling the situation in an effective manner and should verify facts about any news before publishing it in their newspaper/TV channel/social media platform. He also urged them to report about people spreading false news and rumours to the notice of the district administration.

He informed that as per Section 54 of Disaster Management Act, “Whoever makes or circulates a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine.”