Rumour mongers will be booked under PSA, says DC

“We have warned the rumour mongers that strict action would be taken against them and they would be booked under Public Safety Act (PSA), for disrupting the peace, security and creating law and order problem in the state”, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Udhampur Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told PTI.

The decision was taken after it turned out that the cow whose carcass was found this morning had died a natural death five days ago.

He said that after the terrorist attack on BSF convoy in Udhampur on August 5, the district administration had issued an order on August 8 against rumour mongering and the people who disobeyed the order today would be booked as per provisions of the law.

Choudhary said carcass of a cow was found in Gandala area of the district this morning, following which some people started spreading rumours that the cow was freshly slaughtered.

“We asked them to wait till the postmortem report of the animal comes out, but they kept on spreading rumours that the cow was slaughtered. After it was found that the animal had died a natural death five days ago, we have identified few people who would be booked under various sections of the law,” the DC said.

Choudhary said even after it turned out that the cow died of natural causes, still some people continued to spread rumours of cow slaughter.

The district administration has issued instructions to police for preparing dossiers of rumour mongers to be booked under PSA.

“Owner of the cow, identified as Jia Lal Atri, a resident of village Sambal, admitted that the animal died a natural death five days ago,” he said, adding that to dispose off the carcass, he had paid Rs 3,500 to a sweeper who disposed it in the open leading to spread of rumour of cow slaughter.

The injury marks on the carcass was a result of the scavengers, who were feeding on the dead animal, a police officer said.