AGARTALA, April 10 (TIWN): ICAT Director Ratan Biswas in a strongly worded 'Show Cause' Letter asked FAKE News circulator Tripurainfo.Com owner Jayanta Debnath to explain FAKE News Circulation on April 8,2020 as Govt mulling strong step against this erring Media which during CPI-M era occupied Rs 8 crores worth of State Govt Land in Lichubagan on Airport Road.  Under ther garb of Journalist, Jayanta Debnath was involved in various crimes from extortion, even arrested in 1996 after he was caught red-handed for extortion to businessman Supratim Sen, then he was expelled from Dainik Sambad Newspaper. CPI-M's Gautam Das and former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar gifted this fraudster Jaynata Debnath a State Govt owned land worth Rs 8 Crores on 99 years lease on Airport Road in Lichubagan. 

ICAT Director Ratan Biswas wrote "Whereas the issue regarding FAKE news as published by Tripurainfo.com was also discussed of the meeting held on 9th April, 2020 at 5 PM Chaired by Secretary , ICA ,in the fact-check unit of Tripura and decided to issue explanation for authenticiation of particular news for taking further course of action of ICA Dept"

Due to former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and CPI-M State Secretary Gautam Das's blessings, in 2009, Tripura CPI-M Govt gifted a prime Govt Land worth Rs 8 crores for 99 years lease to Jayanta Debnath on Airport Road in Lichubagan which's construction again was funded by by various CPI-M leaders due to some unknown reasons. Lichubagan State Govt's prime Land lease for 99 years itself is a huge scam which remained unearthed.

Alongwith Jayanta Debnath, others Shekhar Datta, Manas Pal were behind Lichubagan Land deal with Manik Sarkar's Govt which State Govt on paper leased for 99 years for Software Export, but in reality Jayanta Debnath constructed home under the mask of office, his family started living back of the bulsing, on front its used for show-off call center, also so called 'Software Export" Center.

West Tripura DM Sandeep Mahatme has issued a notice to Tripurainfo.com Editor/Owner Jayanta Debnath seeking reply by 11th April 5 PM over his media published a FAKE News on COVID19 update, claiming total 17 high-risk persons tested positive in Tripura, whereas the reality is fully different and Tripura yet has only 1 COVID19 patient. In the issued letter, DM said, “Whereas in consequence to the event of one patient being tested positive for COVID19 in the state of Tripura, the online media websites and portals have been found to represent in such a way that has created an atmosphere of apprehensions and suspicions among the citizens that the number of COVID19 will multiply in coming days”. “ Whereas the Supreme Court of India while hearing a writ petition took serious note that the panic created by Fake News on COVID19 and following the Apex Court Observations, the Secretary of Union Home Ministry has written to all States and UTs to take effective measures to fight Fake News”, said the Statement.

“Whereas Tripurainfo.com, a local online media website and news portal having Corporate Office located at VIP Road, Lichu Bagan, Agartala West Tripura has published a news on 8th April, 2020 titled “17 persons in contact with female Guwahati returned COVID19 patient initially tested positive, further tests in line”, the DM notice state.

The 3 matters where clarification with documents and evidences has been sought by 11th April, 5 PM are  :

1)    The name, address etc of the 17 persons who claimed to be COVID19 Positive,

2)    The test reports of the 17 COVID19 positive people, based on which the news was published,

3)    Anyother fact or report on the base of which the news item was published.

The notice that any violation of the above mentioned directives will attract appropriate legal action under provisions of The Epidemic Diseases Covid19 Act 1897 and the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

The reply to this memo must be submitted within April 11 at 5 PM, said DM.

In another separate press meet, Law Minister Ratanlal Nath told media that all the media which had published that FAKE News has taken data from Tripurainfo.com