A case has been filed against a Manipuri entrepreneur in Imphal under the Disaster Managent Act after his audio clip urging people not to follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s lights-out call on Sunday last went viral on social media.
Manipur is ruled by a BJP-led coalition.
The state police said Yumnan Devjit, 32, urged people not to respond to the Prime Minister’s appeal on grounds it would lead to a power grid collapse.
Devjit raised fears of a nuclear-like explosion in the country, they said.
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Devjit also said in the clip that the power outage caused by Modi’s lights-out appeal would damage electrical appliances, transformers, power sub-station, and other installations, police alleged.
Officials said he has been booked under relevant sections of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
“His action constituted a refusal to comply with direction given by or on behalf of the Central Government, as well as circulating a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic,” police officials said.
Devjit is yet to be arrested, they said.
Modi had urged the people to switch off house lights on Sunday last and light up lamps, candles or mobile phone torches for nine minutes at 9 pm to display the country’s ‘collective resolve’ to defeat coronavirus.