Assam: 31, Including Dhing MLA, Arrested for Circulating 'Fake News' amid Corona Crisis

Dispur, April 8, 2020:

Out of 28 cases registered, as many as 31 persons have so been arrested in Assam for circulating 'fake news' reports in social media in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic. While 9 have been released on bail, 9 of the detainees have been acquitted. This is a sharp spike from the 23 arrests related to 'fake news' which were reported till yesterday.

Among those held, the arrest of Dhing MLA Aminul Islam on March 7 has created ripples across Assam.

Assam 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.

It may be mentioned here that the AIUDF leader has made some controversial statements on the current coronavirus situation in Assam. Nagaon Police had received an audio clip, wherein Islam had attempted to give the whole situation a communal color after attendees of the Nizamuddin Markaz’s Tablighi Jamaat were tested positive of COVID-19.

Aminul Islam had already come under sharp criticism for his “irresponsible” comment stating that coronvirus centres are dangerous than the detention centres. His comment had  outraged different sections of the society as the Assam Government had been trying to contain the spread of the virus in full swing.

The AIUDF leader had reportedly commented that the coronavirus quarantine centres are dangerous and worse than the detention centres. He had accused the Assam Government of conspiring against the Muslims in the “coronavirus” web.

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Islam said that the medical staff at the quarantine centres were harassing the ones who had returned from Nizamuddin and that they were giving injections to the healthy ones to stage them as sick and coronavirus patients, said reports citing the audio clip that has surfaced. In a Facebook post, MLA Aminul Islam also claimed that Jamaluddin, the first Coronavirus patient in Assam did not visit the Markaz in Delhi.

Additionally, the Assam Police has arrested 1,258 persons for violating lockdown rules, and 5,871 vehicles have been detained. 578 cases have been registered against the violators. Meanwhile, Rs 21,73,800 has been charged from the violators as a "fine" for violating the norms. A single case of law and order breach has been registered in Darrang.

Twelve containment orders have been issued so far in Assam.

According to the latest official figures, as many as 5,274 people across India have been infected by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 so far, and 149 of the patients have died. However, in a positive development 411 of the patients have been cured/discharged from hospitals.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed that he will be meeting the Chief Ministers of all the states on April 11 to hold discussions on the lockdown.

In a video meeting with leaders of all parties, PM Modi reportedly said he would consult with Chief Ministers but by all accounts the lifting of the lockdown “is not possible”.

The meeting, it is to be believed, will take place via video-conferencing and the PM will be addressing some pertinent issues related to the lifting of the lockdown. This meeting is expected to address the “million dollar question”, whether the lockdown, that will come to an on April 14, will be lifted or not.