The cyber cell of the Delhi Police has launched an investigation following an official complaint from the city's Directorate of Education (DoE). The complaint alleges a concerted campaign to spread false and malicious information on social media regarding schoolteachers being ordered to count stray dogs.
What is the Fake News About?
In recent days, posts and messages circulated on various social media platforms claimed that the Delhi education department had issued a directive compelling schoolteachers to count stray dogs in the capital. This narrative, presented as an official order, quickly gained traction, causing confusion and concern among the public and teaching communities.
The DoE, in its formal complaint to the police, has strongly refuted these claims. The department stated that no such order, instruction, circular, or policy decision was ever issued. It labeled the circulating claim as completely fabricated, baseless, and false, with no connection to any official decision.
The Real Circular and Official Clarification
The department clarified that a genuine circular was indeed issued on November 20. However, this circular was related to student safety and complied with directions from the Supreme Court in a suo motu case titled “City hounded by strays, kids pay price”.
The actual directives in the circular focused on:
- Preventing stray dogs from entering school premises.
- Instructing school security staff to remain vigilant about the presence of stray animals.
Veditha Reddy, the Director of the Directorate of Education, explicitly stated, "There was no mention in any circular of teachers counting stray dogs." She added that despite the department issuing clarifications to counter the fake narrative, the false content continued to be shared widely.
Police Investigation and Malicious Intent
The DoE's complaint asserts that the false news was spread with malicious intent to mislead the public and tarnish the department's image. It has also brought to light instances of individuals posing as teachers to amplify the fake narrative.
To aid the police probe, the education department has provided a list of social media handles allegedly involved in creating and spreading the misinformation. The Delhi Police's cyber cell is now examining these digital footprints to identify the source and the actors behind the campaign.
This case highlights the growing challenge of misinformation on digital platforms, especially when it involves official government functions and causes unnecessary public alarm. The investigation aims to hold those responsible for the fabricated news accountable under relevant laws.
