Mumbai and Pune is not going under Military lockdown.
Maharashtra is the state with the highest number of Covid-19 cases in India. Mumbai and Pune are one of the worst affected cities in the stated from the corona virus.
Claim: A post stating that Mumbai and Pune will be under military lockdown has been widely circulated. The rumor urged people to stock essentials since the cities are being handed over to the army due to the gruesome situation of corona cases in the state.
Entire Mumbai and pune will be under Military lockdown for 10 days starts from Saturday. So please stock everything.
Groceries vegetables. City is going to hand over Army. Might Udhav thackeray releasing Control.— The Ritik Mishra🇮🇳 (@TheRitikMishra1) May 8, 2020
Entire Mumbai and pune will be under Military lockdown for 10 days starts from Saturday. So please stock everything.
Groceries vegetables. City is going to hand over Army.
Only milk and medicine will be available. *MAHARASHTRA CM UDDHAV THACKERAY TO ADDRESS STATE AT 8PM TODAY— விமல் (@Thirumu58176300) May 8, 2020
Truth
The claim is false. Mumbai and Pune are not going to be under military lockdown. Chief Minister of Maharashtra addressed the state on 8th May 2020 giving updates on the corona cases and the state’s future strategy. In his speech, he debunked this claim of the army taking over the cities. He stated that he will be taking help from the Centre since many police men are falling sick but he requested people not to misunderstand the situation and think that army is being deployed. The transcription of the address has been tweeted by the Office of the Chief Minister Maharashtra. Attached below is the same that proves the viral claim is false.
For the past few days, there is a rumour that the Army will be deployed in Mumbai and there will be a lockdown and all shops will be closed. What is the need for the army? Whatever I have done so far, is after taking you into confidence.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 8, 2020
To ensure that we do not fall short of hospital facilities and to face the situation during the monsoons, I requested the Centre to make facilities and doctors of Central Govt Undertakings like Railways, Mumbai Port Trust and the Indian Army available to us if needed.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 8, 2020
We may ask the Centre for additional manpower, but this may be misinterpreted as the army being deployed. But, it is not so. This is meant to give relief to the tired police force. Our measures are well-rounded, we are arranging for hospital, doctors and police.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) May 8, 2020
Source: CMO Maharashtra’s Twitter Handle
Press Information Bureau, Maharashtra and Mumbai Police also tweeted stating that the claim being floated around is false. Attached below are their tweets.
Claim: A #WhatsApp forward says there'll be a military lockdown in Mumbai for 10 days, starting from Saturday#PIBFactCheck: Message is #Fake. No Army/Navy personnel are being deployed for maintaining law and order in the city @adgpi @indiannavy pic.twitter.com/mwcetEsas1
— PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 #MaskYourself 😷 (@PIBMumbai) May 8, 2020
We know there is a lot of free time. But it can definitely be utilised to do things better than spreading #rumours ! Neither do you need to hoard essentials nor is the army or paramilitary being called out. Just stay calm & stay home. That’s all we need to do to combat #corona .
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) May 7, 2020
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