DIMAPUR, May 1 - Nagaland Police have registered two cases for COVID-19 related offences under the IPC, IT Act and Disaster Management Act.
The cases were registered on the basis of complaints received from the Directorate of School Education. The police, in a release on Friday, said the first case pertains to one Mero, who falsely accused the State Government on the social media, of debiting Rs 4,500 from his account.
After inquiry, the police found that Mero had tried to withdraw Rs 4,500 from an ATM at Mahipalpur, New Delhi. He could not withdraw the money due to technical issues with the ATM, but the amount was shown debited from his account, the release said.
It added that the individual had already availed of the assistance of Rs 4,000 under iamstranded.nagaland.gov.in welfare measure of the Government, meant for people stranded outside the State. Police said he dishonestly tried to induce delivery of money for the second time by falsely claiming that the State Government debited the money from his account.
The said individual circulated the fake news on the social media with the intent to cause fear or alarm among the public which will lead to offences against the State or against public tranquillity, the release said. The accused has been summoned to appear before the police.
The police said the second case is related to an anonymous person who applied for assistance under the same welfare scheme of the Government. He had used obscene words and fictitious particulars to withdraw the money.
The release said preliminary investigation revealed that the said person accessed the portal from Chennai by using a Jio IP address.
Meanwhile, Nagaland Police have appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified news which will lead to panic/alarm, and warned of stringent action against those found indulging in such activity.
Principal Secretary (Home) Abhijit Sinha on Friday said till date the State Government has disbursed Rs 5.48 crore to 13,962 people, comprising 10,298 working people, 3,510 students and 154 patients, who are stranded outside the State due to the lockdown.
