On Monday, the Punjab Police said that an FIR has been registered against Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) leader & MLA Simarjit Singh Bains for allegedly spreading misleading propaganda that face masks are not necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Information & Public Relations Dept, Punjab in a press note said that the Punjab Police on Monday registered an FIR against LIP leader & MLA Simarjit Singh Bains for allegedly spreading false propaganda to mislead the people on the COVID pandemic.
According to Police, the FIR has been registered under Section 54 of Disaster Management Act, Epidemics Act, 2005, Section 3 of Epidemic Disease Act, 1897 & under Section 188, 505 IPC in PS Division No.8 Ludhiana, on the basis of a complaint by Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, & the legal opinion sought on the issue by the Ludhiana Police.
In his complaint to Ludhiana Police, the Civil Surgeon Ludhiana had requested legal action against Simarjit Singh Bains, MLA from Atam Nagar constituency, Ludhiana, for misguiding people through a video clip regarding Covid-19.
The Civil Surgeon said that this video clip is being played on various social media platforms, thus leading to the creation of an atmosphere of confusion among the public, regarding Covid-19. Bains was also inciting people not to wear masks, said the complaint.
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In his legal opinion, as sought by the Ludhiana Police, District Attorney Ludhiana noted that Simarjit Singh Bains is giving statements with regard to severity & magnitude of Covid-19 pandemic caused by Novel Coronavirus. Bains is making the claim that Coronavirus is a bogey created by the Govt to perpetuate their power by misleading people & asking them not to wear masks, the District Attorney said.
The opinion given by the DA further mentioned that even though Simarjit Singh Bains is an elected MLA, who is representing a section of citizens of Ludhiana, he is misleading people by forbidding them to wear face masks, which have been made compulsory by the Central Govt to protect the health & safety of citizens of the country.
Already so many lives have been lost due to the Corona pandemic in the country including Punjab, the DA pointed out in his report, concluding that Bains is thus wilfully endangering the health & safety of the people living in the state by exhorting & provoking them to violate the directions, norms & guidelines laid down by the Central & the State Govts under the Disaster Management Act, Epidemics Act. Even the WHO has advised wearing of face masks, he noted.
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