Balurghat, Oct. 22 -- South Dinajpur district police have arrested three persons for allegedly spreading fake videos and misleading information on social media to create panic and disturb communal harmony during the festive season. Police are also investigating possible foreign links and suspected overseas funding in the case.
The arrested persons have been identified as Rehan Sarkar (27) and Suman Roy (28), both residents of the Kumarganj police station area, and Siddique Ali Mia (32), a resident of Gangarampur. Acting on the basis of an investigation, Kumarganj police arrested the trio during a raid in the Kaldighi area of Gangarampur.
"On October 19, we received a complaint that fake news was being circulated through certain social media platforms. Attempts were being made to disturb social harmony during the festive season. After a preliminary investigation, we registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
We found that local residents were operating certain Facebook pages and handles to spread such content. During interrogation, we learnt that they were part of a network with links outside the country.
We have also found evidence of financial transactions. The network was allegedly manipulating or morphing photographs and videos to spread panic among the public. The accused have been arrested," Abhishek Gupta, Superintendent of Police, South Dinajpur.
Investigators suspect that the three may have links with a wider network allegedly involved in spreading fabricated videos and rumours against the government in different parts of the country.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.