Chhattisgarh CEO alert on fake news

The media must remain vigilant as fake news is being circulated in the run-up to the Assembly election, said Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo on Monday.

He said the media, both offline and online, must remain alert as select news is being spread, according to complaints received. The media houses that receive such fake news must register a complaint by filing an FIR with the police and also with the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Sahoo told reporters.

The fake news is circulated on social media, he said but declined to share details of the complainant or the suspect news item.

Sahoo reiterated that ECI would take suo motu cognisance of such incidents if it encountered fake news.

Flying squads

On transfer of officials, Sahoo said district collectors have been directed to take written permission before any such decision. The General Administration Department has also been similarly instructed. On awarding IPS rank to state police officials, he said status quo has been maintained in their posting post IPS ranking. Hence, there is no issue.

He said three flying squads for every Assembly constituency have been constituted and provided vehicles and videography facilities to attend to malpractice complaints quickly.