COVID-19: This is not the time to play pranks, stop spreading fake news  


Afaq Bhat

Srinagar, Apr 5: Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic gripped Kashmir, a few miscreants became active and started spreading rumours and fake news.
The circulation of fake news has created lot of confusion in the Valley, where the number of COVID-19 positive cases are surging with each passing day.
Recently J&K UT spokesman, Rohit Kansal, cautioned people about his fake accounts being created on the twitter. “Am told that a number of fake accounts of mine are being created. This can create a confusion. Please note that I have no other twitter account. These are difficult times. No fakes please,” Kansal wrote on twitter.
On Saturday State run Information Department launched a website to counter fake news and misinformation and to generate awareness among the people in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our initiative is to help you counter fake news. DIPRJK in its endeavour to help you with true information launches the website diprjkfactcheck.in. Check what’s fact & what’s fiction. Our effort to kill fake news and empower the public with information”, tweeted Syed Shehrish Asgar, Director Information & Public Relations.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Fake news being spread on the social media has become one of the reasons for authorities not allowing the mobile companies to increase the internet speed to 4G. It’s unfortunate that entire Kashmir is suffering due to some miscreants.”
He said, “This is not the time to spread fake news and create panic. We need to come together and fight this pandemic. People who are adding to the confusion are doing a great disservice to Kashmir. They should be identified and nailed.”
It’s in place to mention here that Cyber Police in Kashmir are working overtime to trace these culprits and a few arrests have also been made in this connection.
“People who are spreading this fake news about the numbers of COVID-19 positive patients and are uploading photographs of healthy persons and branding them as COVID-19 victims will end up in big trouble as police are tracing them. By doing such cheap acts they have brought shame to all of us,” said an observer.
He said, “This is not the time to play pranks as virus is very much active in Kashmir. I hope we will understand and behave responsibly. Please stop spreading rumours and fake news at this crucial juncture. We have to help the authorities to keep us safe. Instead of indulging propaganda, we should pray for our brethren who have got infected due to this virus and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals.”

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