Hyderabad: In what comes as a petrifying development, and one which is adding to the Omicron worries of the people, pertains to posts and videos that are being circulated across the city. A majority of them are a hoax being played out by a mischievous lot that is posting old videos clips, GOs, and messages from the first and second wave of coronavirus lockdown. Most of the bizarre posts that play up the Omicron fears are trolled on WhatsApp and are spreading confusion.
In a bid to contain such outrageous posts, the police warned those playing mischief of dire consequences if they continued with their fakes.
Divvi Koteshwar Rao, a resident of Malakpet, said, “last week, there was a video clip on WhatsApp, which said ‘all schools in the state will be closed till March.’ This was an old breaking news clip of a news channel. On seeing it, I panicked because my child had just started school after a prolonged break. I have an authorised service centre, which is slowly picking up. I realise that people indulge in such pranks for pleasure but they don’t understand how shattering the posts could be.”
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar said that the entire department was keeping a close watch on people who are playing mischief at this particularly sensitive juncture. All those found guilty would be seriously dealt with.
He said “I urge people not to believe rumours by way of forwards, unless they are from official or authentic sources. The authorities will ensure that people are kept informed across mediums. I urge people to stay away from such social media groups.”
