AGARTALA, April 3 (TIWN): FAKE news propagation by Biplab Deb on COVID19 amounts to minimum 1 year imprisonment. An FIR has been filed against Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb for spreading rumours and fake news on COVID-19, which created turmoil across Northeast led national media to slam Biplab Deb over the irresponsible statement with vogue data. The FIR was lodged by Senior Congress leader Gopal Roy in NCC PS, Agartala Under IPC-182, 505 (1)(b) for spreading FAKE NEWS on COVID-19 outbreak in Northeast India, which has created massive panic among locals for last 2 days. The Chief Minister was stating media at GB hospital on 2nd April when he claimed in Karimganj total sixteen COVID-19 positive cases have been traced and in Manipur 19 but in reality, in Manipur there were only 2 cases whereas in whole Assam total 16 were found. After filing the FIR, Gopal Roy addressing media said, “He was in GB hospital when he said that 19 in Manipur and 16 in Karimganj. He said this on 2nd April but what happened that after 24 hours, from 3rd April, massive panic was generated across Tripura. People from Dharmanagar, Kailashahar, Belonia started massively calling me, which showed the level of panic among the people”.

“Panic means the afraid about unhappened thing. In reality, only 2 were in Manipur and 1 in karimganj infected by COVID-19. This is totally, unnecessary and unwanted and also unfortunate incident happened due to the irresponsible statement from a Chief Minister”, Gopal Roy told media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVLBAYKT7uY&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR09N86sixMaA0T-ncQBG7qejAw_6gl1Bjx_FP0-eYWZ4C5cQ6RbiVCKXqQ Click TIWN YouTube Link to see CM’s statement

“CM is habituated with such controversies but right now, the situation is very critical. Yesterday, one 70 years old man called me saying, whether he will die as upto Karimganj massive outbreak was reported. Thus, I was compelled to file an FIR to the NCC PS under  section 182 and 505 (1)(b) against him. Because, if an important position holding person is spreading rumours like this, it affects the situation. The statement must be truthful and valid”, said Gopal Roy.

Indian Express, one of the most circulated print version media, has asked Deb to verify facts before “Faux Pass”. India Express quoted, “Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has got it wrong again. His latest faux pas pertains to his arithmetic. The CM said Tripura had sealed its border as 16 COVID-19 positive cases were recorded in Assam’s Karimganj and 19 in Manipur”.

Addressing media, CM Biplab Deb said, “In our neighbouring Karimganj, total 16 cases have been found positive and total 19 cases were recorded in Manipur and that’s why we have sealed the borders”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpKKgL7OE9I&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2HSSg0BYlySkk6uYw6eQznni9OYCktzr1ysAw1E0KtRE6KS-0ZI11N8_0 Click TIWN YouTube links to see Biplab Deb said, total 19 positive cases found in Manipur whereas actually the numbers are still 2 only.

This video massively spread in social media and also created tension.

Biplab Deb’s statement came when Home Dept has ordered to arrest anyone related with spreading Fake data on COVID-19.

Before this, Chief Minister on March 27 asked people to use Gamocha instead of mask, which equally created controversy. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb has appealed to the masses to carry one Jal-Gamcha, if a person does not have mask amid massive Corona-Virus outbreak globally.