Prayagraj: Man held for spreading rumours about Covid-19 deaths

PRAYAGRAJ: A 35-year-old man was arrested on the charges of spreading misinformation about deaths caused due to the novel coronavirus outbreak on a popular messaging app in trans-Yamuna area of the city on Wednesday.
The accused Masood Alam (35) is a resident of Gajia in Jahagirabad area of Naini.
Inspector (Naini) Avan Kumar said the accused runs a vehicle cleaning centre and posted an unverified message on the app.The message read, “The government is hiding facts. Over 50,000 people have already died in the country due to Covid-19 till now while the government figures show over 500.”
The inspector said the man has been booked under section 188 (violating section 144 of CrPc), 153 A (indulge in wanton vilification) and 295 A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage the feeling of any class).
On being interrogated, Alam said that he wanted to make people more cautious about Covid-19 and convince them them to stay indoors.
Meanwhile, a joint team of police and Food & Drug Administration (FDA) arrested a grocery shop owner, Raju Kesarwani who is a resident of Ram Bhawan Crossing, for hoarding essential items on Wednesday.
The police received a tip-off that the shop owner was selling a 50 kg packet of wheat flour worth Rs 1,200 at a cost of Rs 1,800. The police have also registered a case under section 3\7 of Essential Commodities act against the trader.
SSP, Prayagraj Satyarth Anirudh Pankaj has warned shopkeepers of legal action if found involved in black-marketing of essential commodities. The SSP said that five police teams have been roped in to check the status at different markets and those found guilty would be booked under Essential Commodities Act.