Representative Image Credit: Crux Now

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 terror, a section of unscrupulous elements is circulating fake news with mischievous intention, to create panic among innocent people of Assam’s Dhemaji district.

The communities at different villages in Dhemaji district have put their village in a lockdown mode abiding the government order.

Amid the lockdown when people are confined to their homes, fake news in social media are creating panic among these innocent villagers and making the situation more miserable.

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One such false information is that a herd of wild elephants is roaming in rural areas of Dhemaji, Gogamukh, Bordoloni, Silapthar and Jonai circles under Dhemaji district.

This created panic among the villagers compelling them to pass three sleepless nights.

It was further rumoured that wild jumbos entered rural areas killed two villagers at Telam village under Jonai circle of the district on Friday night.

But, officials of Dhemaji forest division have dismissed the reports of elephant movement in rural areas asked denizens not to be panic.

Earlier too, the unscrupulous elements circulated a message in social media asking the rural women to light lamps throughout the night to be safe from coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Dhemaji district police has issued a clarification in this regard, asked the people not to believe on such news.

“The foresters are on duty with close coordination with district police. There is no report of elephant attack or damage caused by wild elephant in the district during last two days,” police said in the clarification.

The district police also warned of legal action against the people involved in spreading such fake news in the society.

Dhemaji Police has also set up control room with phone no +91 98599-16060 (Call) and +91 88764- 44415 (Whatsapp) for the people to communicate for any help.

Prafulla Kaman is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dhemaji. He can be reached at: [email protected]