{
  "id": 15316122,
  "title": "Stern action against those spreading misinformation on social media during polls, says Vizianagaram SP",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/stern-action-against-those-spreading-misinformation-on-social-media",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T00:18:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/stern-action-against-those-spreading-misinformation-on-social-media-during-polls-says-vizianagaram-sp/article71590918.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police A.R. Damodar announced that the department would take stringent measures against individuals who spread false information on social media during local body elections. Nearly 20,000 people in the district have been placed under a bind-over rule, which could result in fines up to ₹3 lakh if violated. Damodar urged everyone to verify posts before sharing them on social media platforms and cautioned social media influencers not to mislead the public. Flying squads and special police teams would patrol sensitive areas, including the Vizianagaram Municipal Corporation, Nellimarla Nagar Panchayat, and 27 zilla parishad territorial constituencies, to seize unaccounted money and maintain law and order.",
  "summary": "Nearly 20,000 people have been bound over in the district, says A.R. Damodar",
  "key_points": [
    "Vizianagaram SP vows strict action against social media misinformation during polls.",
    "20,000 people under bind-over rule with potential ₹3 lakh fines.",
    "Flying squads and special teams patrol sensitive areas for law and order."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The deployment of flying squads and strict bind-over rules signals a proactive shift toward policing digital discourse and financial irregularities to ensure stability during the local body elections.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}