Karnataka CM gives nod to create fact check unit to tighten noose around spread of fake news
Bengaluru, Aug 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday gave his approval to set up a fact check unit and promulgation of necessary rules and laws in the state.
A statement issued by his office said the decision was taken with a view that fake news should be controlled as it was dangerous for democracy and would polarise the society.
The decision was taken in a meeting on cyber security chaired by the Chief Minister at his home office 'Krishna'.
Siddaramaiah approved three-step measures of detecting fake news and syndicates that create them, preventing the spread of fake news, and giving severe punishment to the accused.
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The fact check unit will comprise a monitoring committee and fact check analysis team along with the appointment of nodal officers.
It was explained in the meeting that a capacity building team can be formed and technology can be leveraged systematically.
Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said though Bengaluru Police is also active on social media, the state needs a fact check unit. According to him, 'deep fake' is also being utilised using Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is helpful for those spreading fake news.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara said although the fake news network is in its infancy globally, it is likely to become widely used over time.
Parameshwara insisted upon forming the fact checking committee immediately and working on capacity building. He also said that identifying fake news is essential to maintain law and order.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda said people should be informed that it is a punishable crime.
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Man held for killing teacher over Rs 13 lakh loan in Karnataka
Kalaburagi (Karnataka) (PTI): A 27-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing a teacher after she repeatedly demanded repayment of a Rs 13 lakh loan that he had taken from her, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, Amar, allegedly attacked the woman with a sharp weapon and later set the body on fire on the Kamalapur-Kalmood road in the district in an attempt to destroy evidence, they said.
Police identified the victim as Jyoti (57), a resident of Kalaburagi city, who was working as a teacher in Bidar district.
The matter came to light after an unidentified female body was found beside the Kamalapur-Kalmood road, they said.
Initially, it was treated as an unidentified body. Based on a complaint from a local resident, a murder case was registered under 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Kamalapur Police Station limits in Kalaburagi district, police said.
The investigation was immediately taken up and her photographs were widely circulated and later, the woman was identified.
During the investigation, police identified Amar, a resident of Kapnoor area, who owns and runs a milk parlour as the accused, Adduru Srinivasulu, Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police told reporters here.
According to him, Amar had borrowed Rs 13 lakh from Jyoti. She had been repeatedly asking him to return the money and had warned that she would lodge a police complaint if he failed to repay the amount. Fearing this, Amar allegedly planned to kill her.
He reportedly took Jyoti towards the Kamalapur-Kalmood road in a vehicle on April 4. On the way, he stopped the vehicle saying that water needed to be poured into the engine. "When she got down, he allegedly threw chilli powder on her face and attacked her with a sharp weapon. After the murder, he allegedly poured fuel on the body and set it on fire before fleeing the scene," the officer said.
Based on the accused's statement, police recorded his confession, collected evidence in the case, arrested him and produced him before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody, he added.
