Hubballi: COVID-19 patients' personal information leaked, DC orders probe
Hubballi: An essential component of COVID-19 patients’ rights is their privacy, which was violated in Dharwad district after their personal information was leaked on social media a day before the authorities had confirmed the case.
The details of two patients, including their names, addresses, mobile numbers, and age, were widely shared on WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms on Wednesday, even though the district administration confirmed the case only on Thursday.
Deputy Commissioner Deepa Cholan had shot off a letter to the police commissioner, seeking the CDR (call detail record) of the two COVID-19 patients' mobile phones. The letter had also mentioned the personal details of the patients.
But this letter soon made its way to social media, and WhatsApp users kept sharing it without thinking about the privacy of the patients and their families.
Patients and their family members feel that they could face social hardships if their identity is made public. Therefore, the identity of such persons should not be revealed.
Taking the matter seriously, the deputy commissioner has instructed the Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner to investigate how the letter was leaked and take necessary action against the culprits.
"Details of the names and addresses of the individuals infected with the coronavirus have been unofficially shared on social networking sites on 22-04-2020. The district administration has taken the case seriously. Sharing this information on social media by civilians, and publishing it by media houses is a crime under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and COVID-19 Regulations, 2020," a statement from the district administration said.
"Deputy Commissioner Deepa Cholan has written to the Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner, instructing him to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against the violators," the statement read.
A neighbor of the 13-year-old COVID patient in Azad Colony, who was reluctant to disclose his name, said, "The girl had gone to her maternal uncle's house in Mulla Oni for vacation. After his uncle tested positive for the coronavirus, his entire family members, including the girl, were sent to a government quarantine center. After around 15 days, she tested positive today."
"Her identity should not have been leaked like this. Her father is a very soft-spoken person. Now everyone is looking at them with a different view. With this leak, everyone who knows him got to know that his daughter and relatives are infected," he added.
According to him, the patients' family members have decided to lodge a police complaint over the breach of privacy and against people who shared the information on social media.
Upset over the latest developments, the family was unavailable for comments when tried to contacted by a Vartha Bharati reporter.
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BJP worker’s 16-year-old son allegedly casts eight votes in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad; Video viral
Lucknow (Farrukhabad): A viral video has surfaced showing a 16-year-old son of a BJP worker allegedly casting eight votes to the saffron party during the ongoing general elections in Uttar Pradesh. The video has sparked controversy, and the opposition has urged for prompt action from the Election Commission of India, reports scroll.in.
The video shared by the Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on micro-blogging site ‘X’, showed the youngster recording himself while casting multiple times in a series of instances. The incident reportedly took place in Khiri Pamaran village, which falls under the Aliganj Assembly constituency within the Farrukhabad parliamentary seat. Mukesh Rajput, the sitting MP, is the BJP candidate in this constituency. Polling in Farrukhabad occurred on May 13 during the fourth phase of the general election.
In the viral video, the youngster is seen casting eight votes in total, all for the BJP, one by one with different clippings.
The youngster in the video has been identified as Rajan Singh Thakur, confirmed his father, Anil Singh Thakur to the Scroll.in. Anil Singh Thakur is the gram pradhan (village head) of Khiri Pamaran and a member of the BJP.
Anil defending his son told the Scroll that the ‘Video misrepresented his son,’ and claimed that the voting was done when the machine was being tested in some instances and other clipping of him voting on behalf of mentally and physically disabled voters was merged and made into a video.
Despite the Anil's caims, the video has drawn significant criticism. Subhash Chandra Prajapati, the additional district magistrate of Farrukhabad, confirmed to the Scroll that the administration will file a case soon. He mentioned that the returning officer is investigating the matter following a directive from the chief electoral officer in Lucknow.
The opposition has been vocal in its criticism, with Akhilesh Yadav demanding action from the Election Commission. In his social media post, Yadav accused the BJP of undermining the electoral process and described the party's booth committee as a "loot committee." The Congress party also called on the Election Commission to take action, in a ‘X’ post the party wrote, “Dear Election Commission…are you watching..a boy is voting 8-8 times ... .at least wake up now.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, took to ‘X’ to express, “Fearing and seeing their defeat, the BJP is attempting to undermine democracy by pressuring government machinery to deny the mandate. The Congress expects all officers performing election duties to remember their constitutional responsibilities despite any pressure from those in power. Otherwise, once the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc government is formed, actions will be taken to ensure that anyone will think ten times before violating their 'Oath to the Constitution'."
Following the video's circulation, Naval Kishor Shakya, the Samajwadi Party candidate in Farrukhabad, filed a complaint with the district election officer. Shakya's complaint alleges that Rajan Singh Thakur cast votes after snatching voter information slips from other voters and that he was assisted by Dinesh Thakur, the local police station's station house officer. Shakya has called for re-polling at the affected polling center.
In a related incident earlier in May, Gujarat Police arrested two BJP workers for allegedly casting bogus votes and live-streaming the act on social media in the Dahod constituency. The Election Commission conducted re-polling at the affected booth following the incident.
The opposition INDIA bloc, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of failing to take prompt action against election model code of conduct violations.
अपनी हार सामने देख कर भाजपा जनादेश को झुठलाने के लिए सरकारी तंत्र पर दबाव बना कर लोकतंत्र को लूटना चाहती है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 19, 2024
कांग्रेस चुनावी ड्यूटी कर रहे सभी अधिकारियों से यह अपेक्षा करती है कि वो सत्ता के दबाव के सामने अपनी संवैधानिक ज़िम्मेदारी न भूलें।
वरना INDIA की सरकार बनते ही ऐसी… https://t.co/fk4wXL8QZy
