Odisha Police Establishes Special Unit to Combat Fake News Ahead of Elections

Bhubaneswar: With the upcoming General and Assembly elections looming in Odisha, the state’s police force has taken proactive measures to combat the spread of fake news and misinformation on social media platforms. A dedicated special unit has been set up, aimed at monitoring and curbing the dissemination of false information during the electoral process.

Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch) Shefeen Ahamed has been appointed as the nodal officer to oversee the operations of this specialized unit, emphasizing the importance of tackling the menace of fake news effectively.

“Given the specific guidelines from the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding fake news and misinformation, an officer of the rank of Inspector General, in coordination with the IT department, will lead efforts to monitor news content on social media platforms and address false online narratives related to elections,” stated Director General of Police Arun Kumar Sarangi.

The Odisha Police has issued a stern warning against the dissemination of fake news and urged citizens to refrain from sharing misleading information that could potentially disrupt the electoral process. Stringent action will be taken against individuals and organizations found guilty of spreading fake or provocative content on social media platforms.