Assam: 'Fake Journalist' Arrested in Hailakandi amid Lockdown

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Hailakandi, April 12, 2020:

Hailakandi district police have arrested a fake journalist named Dilwar Hussain Laskar for posing as a correspondent of an Assam-based news portal, on Sunday.

Laskar was apprehended by the district police, along with his car in the afternoon. He was arrested and brought to the Hailakandi Sadar Police Station.

The police informed the matter to the District Information and Public Relations Officer, Sabir Nishat, who, in turn, filed an FIR stating that Laskar was not with the portal and that he was a fake journalist. Nishat, in his FIR, requested the police to take stern action against Laskar.

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On inquiry, it was found that the Correspondent of the portal, Hailakandi, Bidhan Sen approached Laskar, who works as a DTP operator, to make a print out of the new identity card which he had received from his Guwahati-based office on his WhatsApp number during the lockdown on March 29 last. Laskar made a ditto identity card and posed himself as a Correspondent of Time8.

The police have registered a case under Sections 409 and 420 IPC against Laskar. Interrogation is on.

Meanwhile, Assam Police registered a total of 61 cases for spreading fake news on social media related to Covid-19 information.

36 people have been arrested as on Sunday for the same. Out of these 36 persons, nine have been released on bail.

ALSO READ: Assam Liquor Shops to Remain Open from Tomorrow Between 10 AM to 5 PM with Covid-19 Protocol

The most striking news that Assam Police today shared is that ‘The Assam Tribune’ (one of the most trusted daily of the State) newspaper’s mobile application, which is available on Google Playstore is fake and unauthorized. “FAKE NEWS ALERT! Beware – the Mobile App of ‘The Assam Tribune’ newspaper, available on Google Playstore is Fake & Unauthorised. Do not download, use or make any payment. ‘The Assam Tribune’ does not have any App,” tweeted Assam Police.

It needs mention here that on April 8, 31 persons were arrested in Assam for circulating ‘fake news’ reports on social media in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

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While 9 were released on bail, 9 of the detainees were acquitted. This is a sharp spike from the 23 arrests related to ‘fake news’ which were reported till April 7.

Among those held, the arrest of Dhing MLA Aminul Islam had created ripples across Assam. State Police arrested Aminul Islam (under case No. 877/2020, U/S 120(B)/153(A)/124(A)/295(A)) early morning on Tuesday after interrogating him the previous night.

Additionally, the Assam Police has arrested 1,454 persons for violating lockdown rules, and 11,200 vehicles have been detained. 738 cases have been registered against the violators. Meanwhile, Rs 39,75,700 has been charged from the violators as a “fine” for violating the norms. There have been three law and order incident in Darrang, Dibrugarh and Nagaon. Fifteen containment orders have been issued so far in Assam.

ALSO READ: Assam: Pijush Hazarika Lashes Out at APCC President Ripun Bora for Engaging in Politics at Corona Time

According to the latest official figures, as many as 8,447 people across India have been infected by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 so far, and 273 of the patients have died. However, in a positive development 764 of the patients have been cured/discharged from hospitals.

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Edited By: Admin

Published On: Apr 13, 2020