File image of Bethany Hospital in Shillong

A case has been registered at the Cyber Crime Wing PS of Meghalaya Police for leaking and circulating the list of patients, who were registered at Bethany Hospital with effect from March 22-April 14, 2020.

“Strict action would be initiated against anyone sharing such kind of content on social media,” the Meghalaya Police said on its Twitter handle.

In a press statement issued on Saturday, G.K. Iangrai, the assistant inspector general of police (A), Meghalaya, said on April 16, a file of 114 pages containing the list of patients, who were registered at Bethany Hospital from March 22 till April 14, 2020 under Out Patient Department (OPD) registration, was leaked and circulated through WhatsApp.

“On receiving the information, police team verified the information and a case has been registered vide Cyber Crime Wing PS Case No. 7(4)2020 U/S 188/336/406 IPC R/W Sec 43(b)/72 Fr Act and R/W See 54 of the Disaster Management Act,” said the top police official.

Assistant IGP Iangrai also requested the citizens of Meghalaya to refrain from “re-posting/sharing such kind of messages in social media or else a legal action will be implicated upon them as per the law”.

Meghalaya’s first COVID19 patient was detected in Bethany Hospital.

Dr. Sailo Rynthathiang, the director of Bethany Hospital in Shillong and the first COVID19 positive case in Meghalaya, passed away at 2.45 am due to medical complications after infection.

Meghalaya currently has 10 active COVID19 positive cases.

On Saturday, Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma said a total of 738 sent for COVID19 test, 667 samples came out negative while results for 60 samples are awaited.