Nagaland police registered two cases in connection with Covid-19 related offences under IPC, IT Act and Disaster Management Act based on complaints received from the directorate of school education.
In a release on Friday, the police said the first case pertains to one Mero who had falsely accused the state government on social media platforms of debiting Rs 4500 from his account.
The police after enquiry found that Mero had tried to withdraw Rs 4500 from an ATM in Mahipalpur, New Delhi.
He could not withdraw the money due to technical issues with the ATM but the amount was shown debited in his account, the release said.
It said the individual had already availed the assistance of Rs 4,000 under iamstranded.nagaland.gov.in welfare measure of the government for the people stranded outside the state.
Police said he was dishonestly trying to induce delivery of money for the second time by falsely stating that the state government has debited the money from his account.
The said individual had circulated the fake news on social media with the intent to cause fear or alarm among the public which will lead to offences against the state or against public tranquility, the release said.
The accused in this case has been served summon to appear before the police.
The police said the second case related to an anonymous person who had applied for the assistance under the same welfare measure of the government.
The said person had used obscene words and fictitious particulars to avail the money being given by the government.
The release said preliminary investigation revealed that the said person had accessed the portal from Chennai by using a Jio allotted IP address.
Nagaland police appealed to the public to refrain from spreading unverified news which will lead to panic/alarm in times of the Covid-19 pandemic.
They warned that stringent action will be taken against any individual for any violation of law.
Principal secretary (home) Abhijit Sinha on Friday said the state government till date disbursed Rs 5.48 crore to 13,962 people, comprising 10,298 working people, 3,510 students and 154 patients, who are stranded or in distress outside the state due to the lockdown.