MARGAO: Commotion was witnessed at the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Hospital in Margao following rumours circulated on social media that some Iranian passengers suffering from Covid-19 would be brought to the hospital.
The locals had gathered at the hospital to oppose bringing the Iranian passengers to the ESI hospital at Margao.
The source of the rumour was a report in a leading English daily that some Iranian passengers with Covid-19 are kept in Vasco and later would be housed in ESI Hospital at Margao.
Following this, the South Goa Collector has issued an order prohibiting rumour mongering on all media platforms.
Collector Ajit Roy, IAS, said that the district administration would take action against the journalist of the daily for filing the report of Iranian passengers housed in Vasco. He confirmed that the news report was fake.
“Strict action will be taken against rumour mongering on all media platforms. We will keep an eye on newspapers, social media and also on word of mouth,” he said addressing a press conference here.
“It was reported by the local daily newspaper that infected Iranian passengers are being brought to Goa. This is completely wrong and there is no such thing happening in Goa. I am taking it very seriously, because this is a very irresponsible behaviour by the reporter,” the Collector said.
“An order has been drawn prohibiting any kind of rumours. We are going to take very strong legal action against those indulging in this kind of activity,” he warned.
“We are contemplating action against the reporter for rumour-mongering and publishing without confirming. Under all these provisions it becomes a criminal offence and we are going to take very strong action,” the Collector added.
