Students prepared for worst, PGs worried as video, notice went viral

NEW DELHI: A “fake police notice” and a “doctored” video triggered panic and confusion among students and residents of Mukherjee Nagar on Wednesday.

Coaching centres shut and students hurriedly moved with bags and luggage around metro stations and bus stops in Mukherjee Nagar after the fake news went viral.

Some centres displayed a notice saying they had closed on Delhi Police’s orders. While there seemed to be little clarity over the veracity of the video or the circular, most stakeholders did not want to take a chance.

Rajpal Singh Pawar, who runs a PG for girls in the area, claimed he had received a call from police, asking them to shut down the PGs. “I was not provided with a written confirmation so there was little clarity on the matter. However, today I got a call, saying we did not have to shut the PGs.”

Delhi has seen a series of violent protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the possibility of a pan-India National Register of Citizens.

The protests, which began from Jamia Millia Islamia, intensified after police assaulted the university students and spread to different parts of the capital. The protests had received support from most sections of students and youngsters.

Rimpi Jakar, an SSC aspirant, was heading back from her sister’s place in Badarpur after her friend reached out to her.

“My friend from our PG, who is preparing for civil services, was worried after the rumours spread. We could not get any confirmation. The owners too had little clarity. It will be difficult for us to get tickets at the last moment if this turned out to be true,” she said, before hurrying away.

Ashwani Rai, who runs a civil services coaching centre in the area, said he was approached by police personnel, asking them to shut down coaching centres between December 25 and January 2. “Police had always asked us to be cautious. Last year too, we had closed our centre between December 31 and January 2 for New Year,” he said.

On Wednesday, students also took to social media to allege that PG owners had stopped providing food and was asking them to leave despite non-availability of tickets. Swaraj Abhiyaan national president Yogendra Yadav also asked the Delhi Police to issue a clarification to students in the area to assure them. HTC