Yahya Hallare

Daijiworld Media Network – Bhatkal (EP)

Bhatkal, May 8: While ordinary people are pushed towards fear and anxiety, false news intended to create rift between communities spreads here one after the other. It has become a challenging task for officials to put a break to such propaganda.

False news like there are several infected people in Bhatkal being treated by private doctors, some of the infected people have died and their rites are performed in secret, several rolls of white cloth are bought for last rites, are being rapidly spread.

News that coronavirus is spread from Bhatkal Sarpanakatte and other places and also that the prevention of the spread of virus, lockdown etc are conspiracies by some to prevent upcoming festival celebrations, is also being falsely spread leading to anxiety among people.

There are stories of quarantine and their violations spreading in the town and slums. West zone IGP Devajyothi in a meeting held in guest house on Tuesday had reportedly tried to confirm parts of false news with local leaders. MP Anant Kumar in a meeting held with officials on Wednesday is said to have referred to death and last rites held in Bhatkal. The officials have warned people especially those who are active in social media not to spread such false news in the interest of the wellbeing of society without obtaining officials statement from officials.

Sojia Soman, senior medical inspector, municipal council said he has records of 13 people’s death in Bhatkal municipal council limits during the last one and a half months.

DySP Gautham said that the MP in the meeting held in Tahsildar’s office had directed to register proper details of deaths. “The health department has already stated it. We do not know anything else.”