Intensifying crackdown against rumour mongers spreading misinformation on Covid on social media, Punjab Police on Thursday approached the Centre for blocking access to 45 links indulging in false propaganda after the social media platforms concerned failed to act against them within the mandated 36 hours of notices being issued to them by the state.
With 13 more accounts/links blocked by the various platforms, the total number of URLs/links blocked for spreading false propaganda in the state has gone up to 121, while the central government’s intervention has been sought in 45, DGP Dinkar Gupta said. While Facebook has blocked 47, Twitter has blocked 52, YouTube has blocked 21 and 01 Instagram accounts/links from their platforms.
In addition, 292 more such URLs/Links carrying malicious content have been reported to Social Media Platforms for blocking the same, said the DGP. The police have also issued a look-out circular for one Satwinder Singh, currently residing in Vienna (Austria). Satwinder @ Sam Thind, r/o vill Phul Shahkot, was allegedly responsible for posting fake videos and refraining people in Punjab from going to hospitals for treatment. The lookout notice seeks to debar his entry into India and to arrest him to face trial as soon as he sets foot in the country.
A total of 18 FIRs have been registered from August 27 to September 10 against persons involved in rumour mongering, said the DGP. This includes the FIR registered against LIP leader and MLA Simarjit Singh Bains.
The State Cyber Crime Cell, Punjab, has also appealed to the people not to share any kind of unverified/unauthentic posts, news, videos or stories regarding Covid on social media platforms, in the interest of the safety, security and maintenance of public order in Punjab.