the goan I network
MARGAO
In a bid to put an immediate stop to rumour mongering on the Coronavirus scare, the South Goa district Collector, Ajit Roy has on Friday invoked provisions under the Criminal Procedure Code by issuing an order under section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting rumour mongering and spreading of false information in the society on the issue.
He warned that the print and TV media as well as the social media, besides citizens that they will be
taken to task if they indulge in rumor mongering and spread misinformation in the society.
Flanked by Additional Collector Surendra Naik and Salcete Mamlatdar Vishal Kundaikar, the district Collector has mulled strong action against the scribe that had filed the report that passengers from Iran infected with Coronavirus will land at the Dabolim airport and will be housed in the State.
“This news is very disturbing. The news was totally wrong. There is no such thing happening in Goa. I am taking it very seriously. This is irresponsible behavior on the part of the reporter”, Roy said, while mulling criminal action.
He said everyone should understand that these are extraordinary circumstances and the administration is fighting a crisis. “I request each and every stake holder to play their role and the media houses have an in important role in fighting the crisis”, he said, adding “unless we all join hands, we will not be able to fight the crisis”.
Making a humble plea to the media not to report wrongly or misreport, the Collector said the media
should confirm any information from authentic sources, either from the district administration or from the health officials. “Please confirm your report before filing anything. This is the reason why I have issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of the
Cr P C to prohibit any person from floating rumours of any kind or indulging in any misbehavior. “We will initiate legal action against all such persons”, he warned.
When his attention was drawn to reports that a Minister in the government had aired his views on the passengers from Iran, the Collector said the Minister made the statement based on the report carried by the English daily.
Asked to comment on the commotion outside the ESI hospital, Margao on Friday evening, the district Collector attributed the commotion to rumour mongering in the media, including the social media.
