3 remanded for spreading fake Covid news
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 11 2021:
Duty Magistrate Imphal West has on Sunday remanded three individuals - Thaodem Romesh, Thaodem Bikram and Sougrakpam Johnson to 4 days police custody for allegedly spreading false information on the mass COVID-19 testing drive at Takyel Khongbal on social media.
They allegedly circulated a video on social media that claimed that 500 out of the 700 samples collected from the locality came out Covid positive.
Thaodem Romesh (34), s/o Ibouchou of Sekmai Laipat, Thaodem Bikram (43), s/o Kula of Sekmai Laipat and Sougrakpam Johnson (30), s/o Gambir of Naoremthong Khumanthem Leikai were arrested by a team of Imphal West police from their respective residences yesterday.
They were produced before the Duty Magistrate Imphal West by a team of Lamphel police along with a prayer for remanding them to 4 days police custody.
The IO of the case through APP submitted that Deputy Commissioner Imphal West Th Kirankumar lodged a complaint to the SP Imphal West stating that a fake information pertaining to house to house COVID-19 testing drive at Imphal West was uploaded on social media.
On preliminary interrogation, all the arrested individuals accepted the charges levelled against them.
The Court after hearing and on perusal of the case record remanded the accused to 4 days police custody till July 14 .
On the other hand, SP Imphal West Dr S Ibomcha appealed to all to refrain from spreading false information on the Covid pandemic.
It is reported that 31 out of 737 samples tested positive for COVID-19 during the drive at Imphal West yesterday.