A total of 197 people have been punished by Chinese police targeting online rumours about the country's stock market and the deadly Tianjin blasts, the media reported on Monday.
A statement issued by the public security ministry on Sunday said 165 online accounts were closed for relevant violations, China Daily reported.
The statement said people punished in the campaign expressed repentance over their misconduct that have "caused panic, misled the public and resulted in disorders in stock market or society".
According to the statement, these people are punished for circulating rumours such as "man jumped to death in Beijing due to stock market slump", "at least 1,300 people were killed in Tianjin blasts" and some seditious rumours about China's upcoming commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
The ministry statement pledged strict measures to enforce rule of law and punish violations on the internet and called on internet operators to strengthen management to ensure cyberspace order.
