Masked Indian comic superhero fights Covid-19 fear 2nd Dec 2020 | Source: BBC
India s first female comic superhero Priya, a gang-rape survivor who earlier campaigned against rape, acid attack and sex trafficking, is back to fight disinformation around the Covid-19 pandemic.
In Priya s Mask, due to be launched on 2 December, the comic crusader joins hands with Jiya, the Burka Avenger , a popular character from a Pakistani cartoon show, as the two go about trying to tackle the pandemic - and also the infodemic , a major proliferation in fake news surrounding the coronavirus.
With more than 9.4 million infections and 137,000 deaths, India has the second highest caseload globally. A strict nationwide lockdown that was imposed on 21 March delayed the spread for a while, but infections grew rapidly - and continue to do so - since restrictions were relaxed.