NONGPOH: The village Durbar along with villagers of Quinine in Ri Bhoi on Saturday came out in protest against a fake report published by Time8 channel from Assam.
The news video clip with the caption ‘Planning to visit Shillong! Be careful’, which has gone viral, alleged that Shillong-bound vehicles are falling into a dangerous trap as crane operators were spilling some kind of diesel or oily stuff on the national highway leading to accidents.
Headman of Quinine village Bhastar Lyngdoh lambasted Time8 for its lack of ethical reporting, which is not based on facts but rumour spread by a few individuals.
“There is no truth at all in the news video published by Time8, those who faced accidents in our village are mostly from Assam and are first timers who visited our state who do not know the conditions of the road,” Lyngdoh said, adding that even the police and NHAI officials have conducted inquiry and found out that there was no spilling of oil as alleged.
Lyngdoh said the channel should have visited the site before spreading such fake news, which has a negative effect not just on the village but the state as a whole.
Village secretary Joseph Syngkli and a member Lansius Syiemlieh, while condemning the fake news, said the main cause of accidents in the area “is the blind curve and speeding and not spilling of oil by crane operators or youths of the village.
“Those tourist vehicles which commute daily did not meet with accidents in the village as they are aware of the sharp turns and condition of the road,” the village leaders added.
Meanwhile, the village leaders also urged drivers from Assam and other states of the country to drive carefully in the hilly areas of Meghalaya as the road has sharp turning and becomes slippery, especially after rain.
Earlier, during the protest, villagers held placards on the national highway condemning the fake news.