Shillong, May 13: The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Pynursla Civil Sub-Division has promulgated an Order under Section 144 CrPC whereby all persons indulging in rumor mongering and circulating false rumors which have the potential to cause panic and alarm especially with Covid-19 related matters, will be punished as per the provisions of Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Section 505(1) of the Indian Penal Code which entails a punishment of upto one year and three years respectively.

The Order is necessitated in view of the notice received that there are false messages, rumors, misinformation, disinformation circulating within the Pynursla Civil Sub-Division in Social Media through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, text messages, unauthorized Public Address System and word-of-mouth regarding the efficacy of the Covidd-19 vaccine and how it can have an adverse impact on the health of the beneficiaries and that in certain pockets of the Sub-Division, this rumor-mongering has misled people and severely affected the coverage of the Covid-19 vaccination drive thereby leading to loss of precious opportunity for some to guard themselves and their loved ones against the spread of the virus.

The order shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force till further orders.