The truth behind viral message of curfew during Durga Puja in West Bengal

To incite communal hatred some miscreants have allegedly posted fake information of West Bengal government imposing a night curfew during Durga Puja. The festival of Durga Puja is celebrated with much fanfare in the state and with the circulation of such news image of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is going to take a hit.
However, acting swiftly cyber-crime section of Kolkata Police arrested two persons behind creating and posting fake posts on night curfew during Durga Puja in October. Posts on social networking sites had suggested that curfew will be imposed in the nights of the five days of Durga Puja festivities in West Bengal mainly due to the COVID-19 situation. A fact-check with state police and government shows that no such decisions have been done so far. The motive of such post was to tarnish the state government’s image.
“The person who created and posted the fake post about Durga Puja on WhatsApp & Facebook has been arrested,” Police tweeted.

#FakeNewsAlert https://t.co/hIlevLEytC

— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) September 8, 2020

Kolkata Police also tweeted, “A rumour regarding Durga Puja is being spread through WhatsApp. No such decision has been taken. Please do not forward this message. It’s fake. Action is being taken”.
The state government has denied the claim of imposing any curfew during the Puja and said strict action will be taken those circulating fake news or trying to spread communal hatred. In the last five months, state police have arrested 259 persons for posting and forwarding fake, communal and mischievous posts.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Tuesday said that a few people were spreading fake news about the state government banning Durga Puja. She had also directed the police to catch the rumour mongers and make them hold their ears.