Weeklong awareness campaign against rumours from Thursday: IGP

Inspector General of Police (IGP)  Mohammad Javed Patwari on Wednesday announced that a weeklong campaign will start from Thursday across the country to make people alert about rumours.

“People responsible for spreading rumours will be dealt with iron hand, no matter who are they and how strong they are?” said the IGP while speaking at a press briefing held at the Police Headquarters.

The law enforcers will remain in field and they will work with the public representatives and community police, he said.

Police will go to different schools and colleges at thana level and the Imams will deliver sermons at mosques during Jummah prayers Friday next, he added.

“A total of eight people have so far been lynched following rumours and after investigation it was found that none of those killed in mass beating was neither child-lifters nor kidnappers. All of them were innocent,” said the IGP.

He said that already 60 Facebook page links, 25 Youtube links and 10 news portals have been blocked for spreading such rumours, he said adding, “A vested quarter is involved in spreading rumour for destabilizing the country. They are doing it from home and abroad.”

“We have got information that a person involved in the politic of opposition party is involved in spreading rumour about Padma Bridge and he posted it in Facebook from Dubai,” said Javed Patwari.

A total of 31 cases have been filed against some 103 people across the country for spreading rumours, he added.