Wayanad Landslides: 14 FIRs across Kerala for campaigning against CM's relief fund request

Thiruvananthapuram: A total of five cases have been registered here in connection with a campaign against the Chief Minister's Facebook post, requesting help for the victims of the Chooralmala landslide in Wayanad district. Cases were registered against individuals, including the owner of the online media outlet 'Marunadan Malayali'. A number of 14 FIRs have been filed statewide in connection with cases which have been registered across the state against individuals who used social media to campaign against the relief fund.

In Thiruvananthapuram City alone, four cases were registered. Two cases each were filed in Ernakulam City and Palakkad, with one case each in Kollam City, Ernakulam Rural, Thrissur City, Malappuram, Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram Rural.

The Medical College Police registered a case against Marunadan Malayali’s Shajan Skaria under Sections 192 and 45 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act. The Cantonment Police also registered cases against the X ID account holders of ‘Crane, Crow, Cuckoo’ and Pramod Kollam. 

For the past few days, there has been a social media campaign urging the public not to donate to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Following this, the police began registering cases. According to the police, strict legal action will be taken under the Disaster Prevention Act against those who create, edit and share posts intended to spread misinformation. Cyber Police monitoring on social media has been intensified for this purpose.

Opposition leader files complaint with DGP
 

Following the Wayanad tragedy, the Opposition Leader's office lodged a complaint with the state police chief against a false propaganda circulating on social media that he had called on people not to donate to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

The private secretary of the Opposition Leader demanded immediate legal action against those who created and shared fake news in the Opposition Leader's name.