AIZAWL, March 29: Two sexagenarian men
have been arrested in Mizoram for spreading
fake news on social media claiming that a person travelling with the lone COVID-19 patient from the State has tested positive for
the disease, a senior police officer said on
Sunday.
With the fresh arrests on Saturday, the total number of persons arrested in the State
for spreading fake news on novel coronavirus
has risen to 18, he said.
“The fake news was posted on a WhatsApp
group by a 62 -year-old man from South
Chawngtui village in Hnahthial district and
was widely circulated,” Mizoram Inspector
General of Police (Headquarters) John Neihlaia said.
He is a leader of a local task force on COVID-19 and a member of the Young Mizo Association, the officer said.
Another 60-year-old man from the same
village has also been arrested for spreading
the fake news, he said.
They have been booked under Sections of
IPC and CrPC, Neihlaia said.
Fifteen people were earlier arrested for
spreading fake news on coronavirus.
One person was arrested for circulating a
fake circular issued in the name of Chief Secretary Lalnunmawia Chuaungo asking Mizos
residing outside the State to return home, failing which they will be “declared” non-Mizo.
A 33- year-old woman was arrested on
March 24 for hiding her travel history.
The woman, after returning from Macau
on March 10, lied to officials at Lengpui airport, claiming that she was coming from Kolkata. – PTI
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