Police bust a person spreading misinformation on COVID-19

The Kathmandu police have caught a person involved in producing and spreading an audio clip containing misinformation relating to coronavirus via social media. The arrestee has been identified as Bibek Thapa Magar originally from Ramechhap district. Thapa was living in Sipadol in Bhaktapur.

An one-minute recorded audio clip talks about outbreak of virus in Nepal and subsequent death toll of COVID-infected people.

Thapa, who was running an unregistered news website, jhorle news.com. said in the clip that he got the information relating to the infection from an employee of Norvic International Hospital based in Kathmandu. Norvic International Hospital however clarified that the hospital has reported no infected person so far.

The clip has gone virus right after hitting social sites. The cyber bureau of the police is investigating Thapa Magar under offense of public law and order, said Police Spokesperson Deputy Inspector General of Police Shailesh Thapa Chhetri.

The police have asked the people to ignore any unauthorised news and information relating to the virus and follow government’s authorised information. The government said those creating rumours and disseminating misinformation with regards to the infection would face action.