Odisha teacher suspended for spreading coronavirus misinformation

Bhawanipatna: Teacher of a primary school in Odisha’s Kalahandi district has been placed under suspension for allegedly spreading misinformation about COVID-19 (novel coronavirus).

Kalahandi Collector yesterday suspended Bindu Mahanand, who was working as a teacher at Dudkela primary school under Golamunda block of the district. The teacher was on March 15 arrested in this connection.

He had allegedly posted a message on WhatsApp claiming that a coronavirus-infected man returned from Bengaluru and confined himself to his house at Khaliakani village in Golamunda block.

Following this, police and block officials visited the village to verify the claim. The information was found to be false following which the police registered a case against Mahanand and arrested him.

The state government had warned that stern action would be taken against anyone spreading rumours about the disease.