Both Delhi Police and Ghaziabad Police said that action would be taken against those who tried to incite people by spreading fake news on Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait's arrest.
Farmers across the nation are holding a protest march on Saturday to mark the completion of seven months of their agitation against the Centre's three farm laws.
Under the Samyukta Kisan Morcha banner, farmers are staging demonstrations outside Raj Bhawans across the country and handing over memorandums demanding a repeal of the farm laws to the state governors.
However, it has emerged that attempts being made to instigate farmers via social media.
Messages were circulated that Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait was arrested by the police for carrying out a march.
A tweet was put out by the Twitter handle of Kisan Ekta Morcha. The message spread like wildfire on social media.
The Delhi Police and its counterparts in Ghaziabad were quick to rubbish the charge.
Fake news! News related to arrest of Rakesh Tikait is incorrect. Pl stay away from such fake news/tweets. Action will be taken for spreading such false news/tweets #delhipolice#DP https://t.co/XWdVY5XWXs
— DCP East Delhi (@DCPEastDelhi)The Ghaziabad Police said that Tikait was very much present at the Ghazipur border.
श्री राकेश टिकैत गाजीपुर बॉर्डर पर उपस्थित हैं। गिरफ्तारी करने की सूचना भ्रामक एंव असत्य है। दिल्ली पुलिस के द्वारा भी इसे झूठी खबर करार दिया गया है। फेक न्यूज़ फैलाने वालों के खिलाफ दंडात्मक कार्रवाई की जाएगी। https://t.co/YywqKZP4sk
— GHAZIABAD POLICE (@ghaziabadpolice)The police further said that action would be taken against those who tried to incite people by spreading fake news on Tikait's arrest.
Following the police rebuttal, Kisan Ekta Morcha blamed the media for the fake news.
This fake information was passed by a news channel!
This tweet will be deleted within next 5 minutes. https://t.co/UOGI6VeoWq
An embarrassed Rakesh Tikait was forced to clarify via video on the Kisan Ekta Morcha's Twitter.
. is safe at Ghazipur & that the news of arrest was FAKE!!
Verified news/updates will be rolled out henceforth pic.twitter.com/IlTtglwISJ
He further said that there is a need to verify any information before it is posted on social media accounts.