Meghalaya police have detained a social media user for allegedly posting fake news about cabinet minister Marcuise N Marak’s “assassination” by the militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).
The person was picked up from Tura in West Garo Hills after a complaint was filed by the minister against a social media page “The Garo Hills Times” on Facebook.
Marak called the post a deliberate attempt to incite panic and disrupt law and order. He urged the police department to investigate and take strict action against those responsible and measures be taken to prevent such misinformation in the future.
The person he has been brought to Williamnagar, East Garo Hills. “We have not arrested him and are interviewing him on the matter. We have registered a case under 113 BNS,” Superintendent of Police Stephan Rynjah said.
The fake news item claimed, “GNLA has taken responsibility for the assassination of Williamnagar MLA and Cabinet Minister Marcuise Marak,” adding, “…he was likely targeted by the GNLA for his anti-insurgency operations supported by the government.”
