Tasaduq Rashid
Director Department of Information & Public Relations Dr Sehrish Asgar on Saturday advised social media users to play thier role in circulation of authentic news which would cement efforts of administration to battle Covid19 in J&K.
She appealed people to come out of their homes only in case of exigency.
Dr Sehrish said some elements using social media to spread unverified information among masses are not only creating hurdles in the efforts of administration to deal with Covid 19 but are harming the interests of community as well.
“ All such users are under surveillance and anyone found spreading fake news would be dealt by security apparatus according to law”, Director DIPR added.
Saying that rumour mongers are making things complicated for the Government to spread messages related to COVID19, Dr Sehrish asked the people to play their role in circulating guidelines issued by Government from time to time to contain spread of the disease.
“I advise such elements don’t spread misinformation. Supreme Court (SC) has clearly issued guidelines how to deal with rumour mongers, ”she said.
She appealed people to stay indoors and follow medical protocol properly if there is an unavoidable need to come outside.
“I appeal people to stay inside their homes and come out only in case of exigencies. Also to follow medical advisories, wash hands after every two hours and cover face and mouth with masks”, Dr Sehrish said.
When asked lockdown violation cases are repeatedly reported from some areas across Kashmir, she said administration in on job to deal with such elements.
” I appeal people to voluntarily desist from coming out of their homes unnecessarily. They are putting themselves to danger besides their families and society”, She said.
She told that people shouldn’t go panic. “Get updated from DIPR’s official website and twitter handler as we are uploading verified updates for our people”, She added.
Dr Sehrish also said Department of DIPR recently launched a website to counter fake news and misinformation and to generate awareness among the people in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our initiative is to help people to counter fake news. DIPRJK in its endeavour to help you with true information launched the website diprjkfactcheck.in. Check what’s fact & what’s fiction. Our effort to kill fake news and empower the public with information”, she said.
