Team Herald
PANJIM: Soon after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced action against the violators of the lockdown, Goa Police issued an advisory warning to book the violators under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The alert against leaving the house states, “Goa is under lockdown and curfew. If outdoors (,) you can be stopped, questioned, sent back. Non-cooperation can lead to custody for violating government orders.”
The violation, it said, will attract punishment under Sections 188 (violation of order promulgated by government), 270 (malignantly doing any act known to be likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life), 269 (negligently doing any act known to be likely to spread infection of any disease dangerous to life) and 271 (knowingly disobeying any quarantine rule) of IPC. The advisory has also released helpline numbers for the general public.
Likewise, the Department of Information & Technology issued a separate advisory to curb the spreading of false news and misinformation on COVID-19. Director Meghna Shetgaonkar has urged social media platforms to refrain from such act and instead initiate awareness campaigns.
“The social media platforms are intermediaries and are required to follow due diligence in such circumstances. They must inform their users not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any information that may affect public order and unlawful in any way,” the advisory reads as.
“The social media platforms are therefore urged to initiate awareness’ campaigns on their platform for the users (,) not to upload/circulate any false news/misinformation concerning corona virus which are likely to create panic among public and disturb the public order and social tranquility; take immediate action to disable/remove such content hosted on their platform on priority basis; promote dissemination of authentic information to corona virus as far as possible,” it further said.
