JORABAT, March 20 - In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, huge crowds and inadequate healthcare infrastructure have been a cause of concern in the country, but equally worrying is misinformation and fake news related to the pandemic.
Pankaj Medhi of Lungsung village in Dimoria has been a victim of misinformation with a regional news portal Sangbad Lahar allegedly carrying a false report of Medhi being hit by the virus. It may be mentioned that no official statement from doctors or Medhi�s family was given in the news.
Medhi, a tourist car driver, now rues that people in his village have been distancing themselves from him and his family after the false news was aired. �I was suffering from cold and cough and recently visited the Sonapur district hospital for a check-up fearing that my malady could be diagnosed as Covid-19. Fortunately, the doctors said it was plain cold and cough. After returning from the hospital, I was shocked as a number of people called me up to confirm the news aired by the portal,� Medhi said.
As fear gripped the village, the enraged Medhi today filed a case against the news portal at the Khetri Police Station demanding strict action against such fake reporting.
Talking to mediapersons, the officer in-charge of Khetri PS assured of acting against such fake news portals and also urged the public not to fall prey to such false news.
