No schools or colleges along ECR need to shut for Modi-Xi, police clarifies after fake WhatsApp text

The Greater Chennai Police issued a statement claiming they had not issued any advisory regarding the closure of schools or traffic diversion during the Prime Minister's visit later this week. Many messages regarding traffic diversions, shutting down of schools, vehicle movement restriction and have been going viral on social media wrongly attributed to the police. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will be meeting on October 11 and 13 for an informal summit at Mamallapuram, 55 kilometres away from Chennai.

In the 'fake' message that subsequently went viral on WhatsApp, the police appeared to be informing the public about the VVIP route and schedule. It also said that all schools and college would be closed for those two days, all expatriates would be 'intimidated' to respective police authorities, consignment movement restriction, vehicle movement restriction and all family members were to be made aware of 'this information.'

With regard to this message, the Greater Chennai police said that they have not released any advisory regarding closure or diversion of traffic, closure of educational institutions and commercial establishments or any other activity during the visit of the Prime Minister and the Chinese President. "Every effort is being made to ensure that the public is not inconvenienced due to security or traffic arrangements," the police said.