NEET stir row: Delhi Police debunks protester's 'death' rumours, urges public to verify before sharing posts
New Delhi, July 23
The Delhi Police on Thursday issued a public advisory urging citizens to verify information through official sources before sharing content on social media, amid the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak. The appeal came after misinformation spread on social media regarding the death of a woman protester who was injured during the police action on students on Monday and was admitted to hospital.
In a post on X, the Delhi Police appealed to people to exercise caution while consuming and circulating information online, stressing the importance of responsible digital behaviour during sensitive situations.
"Responsible digital behaviour begins with verifying facts through official channels before forwarding any content," Delhi Police said in its advisory.
The appeal came after misinformation spread on social media regarding the woman who was injured during the protest. Several posts falsely claimed that the woman had died following the incident.
Clarifying the matter, the police stated that the reports were completely false and confirmed that the woman is alive, in stable condition and undergoing treatment at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. The police issued the advisory to counter the misinformation and prevent the spread of fake news.
In its advisory, police said, "Reports circulating on social media claiming the death of a female protester at Jantar Mantar are entirely false and misleading."
"It is hereby informed that the woman is alive and is currently admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. The attending doctors have confirmed that her condition is stable and that she is out of danger," the advisory added.
The police further appealed to citizens to refrain from circulating unverified information and said, "Please verify all facts through official channels before reposting or sharing information online."
Meanwhile, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital also issued a medical bulletin providing an update on the condition of the injured woman, confirming that her health has shown significant improvement.
"The 21-year-old female patient who sustained critical injuries during the reported protest-related incident has been undergoing treatment at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, New Delhi. She is showing clinical improvement," the hospital said.
Providing further details, the hospital stated, "She was successfully extubated (removed from ventilator) 24 hrs back and is now breathing on her own. She is conscious and responding appropriately to commands. Her clinical condition is currently stable. However, she needs and continues to receive comprehensive critical care under the close supervision of the multidisciplinary treating team," it added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I understand the frustration of the protesters regarding the NEET paper leak, but spreading fake news about a protester's death is dangerous and irresponsible. Those who started these rumours should be traced and held accountable.
Good to hear she is stable and recovering. But the real issue remains - the NEET paper leak itself. Students have valid concerns about fairness in exams. Police should also address why such heavy-handed action was taken against students peacefully protesting. 😤
It's a reminder for all of us to be responsible digital citizens. Verify before sharing. The police advisory is timely. But let's not forget the actual protest is about exam irregularities - that is the root cause of all this.
Misinformation is a serious menace in India today. The police did the right thing by clarifying quickly. However, I hope the authorities are equally transparent about how the NEET leak happened and what action is being taken against those responsible.
I'm glad she's out of danger. But the incident raises questions about why police had to use such force that a student ended up in critical condition. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. We need better crowd management, not violence. 🕊️
So many people shared that death post without
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.