A group of people is attempting to disturb peace in the city by spreading false news that the health of Ahmed Qureshi, an accused in an attempt to murder case, who is in the prison ward at the Government Wenlock Hospital, is deteriorating. The police will shortly arrest those involved in spreading rumours, said Police Commissioner M. Chandra Sekhar here on Monday.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that the condition of Qureshi was stable. Some people circulated on social media on Sunday videos with the logo of a local channel to falsely claim that Qureshi’s condition was critical.
“There is a section of people in the city indulging in rumour mongering on Qureshi’s health.” A case has been registered in this connection by the Mangaluru East police. “We have gathered intelligence inputs about those involved in rumour mongering through social media. We will shortly arrest them,” he said.
Mr. Chandra Sekhar said that after rumours spread on the social media groups the police obtained a report from doctors in Wenlock Hospital about Qureshi’s health on Monday and submitted it to the jurisdictional court.
Earlier, Mr. Chandra Sekhar had a meeting with District In-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai, Food and Civil Supplies Minister U.T. Khader, Mangaluru City North MLA B.A. Mohiuddin Bava and other public representatives regarding Qureshi’s arrest.
Qureshi, who is an accused in two cases of attempt to murder, was arrested March 28 that was followed by a protest by Popular Front of India activists accusing the police of harassment and causing damage to his kidneys.
Following a detailed presentation on the health of Qureshi, Mr. Rai and other public representatives reportedly told Mr. Chandra Sekhar to place facts before the public and give a clear picture on Qureshi’s health. Mr. Chandra Sekhar showed reporters footage from a closed circuit television camera of the jail ward in Wenlock Hospital in which Qureshi is seen eating food and relaxing on the bed.
“This is the true picture. Do not fall to attempts by mischief mongers who want to use the case of Qureshi to meet their own ends,” he said.
