Cracking down on the spread of fake news around the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Kolkata Police has filed 10 First Information Reports (FIR) and initiated 35 cases specifically targeting fake news posts related to the incident. Over 200 notices have been issued to people within the past 24 hours to stop deliberate spread of false information that could potentially obstruct justice, incite violence or exacerbate public unrest.
Sections of criminal conspiracy and relevant charges under the IT act and other cognisable offences have been added in the FIRs, News18 has learnt.
In the aftermath of the gruesome rape and murder, social media has become a hotbed for circulation of fake news, adding layers of confusion and misinformation to the sensitive case.
Among the accused against whom the FIRs were registered or cases were initiated in the form of general diary or otherwise, there are journalists, politicians, doctors and other social media users. The offences include sharing of factually incorrect data, videos, voice notes, alleged PM report and other forms with multiple claims related to the case and the incident. The numbers of FIRs and cases will go up eventually as the cops are in the process of sending out more notices and initiating strict legal action, said a senior officer of Kolkata Police.
CRACKDOWN IS ‘NECESSARY’
The spread of “lies and distortions of facts" can have devastating consequences for both justice and social harmony, said another senior officer of West Bengal police.
“As investigations into the crime progress, false narratives and unverified claims have flooded platforms like Facebook, X platform (formerly Twitter), and WhatsApp, with some posts attempting to distort the facts of the investigation and even malign the woman’s character. We are now forced to take decisive action that underscores the grave risks posed by unverified and unsubstantiated misinformation, particularly in such an extremely sensitive case," he added.
“The crackdown is needed to serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unverified and malicious content, emphasising the need for responsible communication, especially in the context of such a heinous crime," said the senior officer.
Comments
0 comment