Delhi Police has denied social media speculation about a woman protester having been killed while protesting on the streets of the capital, saying she was not. The police said the reports were fake news and asked people to avoid circulating or believing unverified news, which they felt would trigger feelings of panic.
As Delhi Police added that no such death has happened and the woman referred to in the viral posts is stable in hospital and not in danger, the police said in a statement.
Some social media users reported false claims of the death of a female protester in advance of the investigation, and people started to speculate on it online, the police said. “Such misinformation can cause panic and incite public opinion and disturbance of law and order,” the police added.
The concerned woman is stable in hospital and is out of danger, Delhi Police said, advising citizens to rely on official sources for updates on the incident.
The clarification comes at a time when more people have been following the protests and information and videos are spread quickly on social media. “The false claims in public in this context and the false information made during the protests can cause a lot of confusion and damage the peace,” the officials said.
Law enforcement agencies have frequently asked citizens to check information before they send it online. When people get into conflict and the police are confused and there is a conflict, misinformation can be bad for you, the police said.
They said investigations and official updates should be taken as opposed to unverified social media posts. Users should be careful in what they share or use information about the current events and their information, they said.
It demonstrates the growing problem of misinformation in fast-moving situations. With social media now able to disseminate information within minutes, public clarifications will be increasingly important as we fight against false narratives and get the public updated information.
Delhi Police has not said if they will take legal action against those who spread the false claims. But law enforcement agencies have taken action against individuals who are deliberately spreading misinformation that is in the public interest and risks public order.
The police still say that the woman’s condition is stable and have said no reports of her death have ever been received.
