The family of a 22-year-old woman, who returned from Britain on March 18, has initiated criminal proceedings against their neighbor for spreading rumours about the girl being a Covid-19 patient.
After her return to Chandigarh, the woman spent her days in mandatory quarantine as per the government protocols. After the completion of 22-year-old Sai Anukriti’s quarantine, her family gave the police go-ahead to file a criminal complaint against the neighbour.
According to a report in Indian Express, Sai Anukriti’s neighbour spread a rumour on WhatsApp that the girl was tested Covid-19 positive after her return from England.
The viral WhatsApp message claimed:
“Adv Amar Vivek’s daughter taken by health department 1/2 hour back. She was positive but not being disclosed. Her grandfather SK Aggarwal intimated the police officer about her.”
The message was widely shared in WhatsApp groups on March 21 which included residents of Sector 8 in Chandigarh. While many people forwarded the message in the group, Anukriti’s family had to endure the real ordeal.
Anukriti, who is a student of graphic designing at Coventry University in UK said:
“I started getting messages from friends about my well being. Anyone travelling to India from abroad was under mandatory quarantine and I too was following the procedure. I still did not realise there was a rumour about me.”
