News Tamil Nadu

TN Police Intimidate YouTuber For Sharing Video About Army Man’s Plight, Serve Summons For Viral Video Of North Indians Being Beaten In A Train

February 17, 2023
The Commune

In what appears to be an attempt to quell recent backlash against the DMK government over a video of non-Tamik migrant workers being thrashed inside a train, and the poor handling of an army man killed by a mob led by a DMK councilor, the Tamil Nadu Police have issued notices and threatened action against YouTuber Karthik Gopinath for sharing those videos on his Twitter account.

The DMK government’s handling of a case in which an Lance Naik Prabhu was beaten to death by a mob led by a DMK councillor sparked national outrage. Though the police have arrested all accused now, the DMK leaders have trivialized the incident and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has not even condemned or expressed condolence over the murder of the soldier. The DMK leaders and Krishnagiri Superintendent of Police have been underplaying the incident as a family feud.

Following this, Krishnagiri District Police have threatened YouTuber Karthik Gopinath for sharing a video of another army man, Raghu, who was subjected to the ordeals as the deceased Prabhu by a local DMK politician.

Havildar Raghu of the Madras Regiment has served for over 15 years. He claimed that earlier in January 2023 he had to assault a man in order to save his wife and child from an armed gang in Krishnagiri similar to the one that killed Lance Naik Prabhu.

On January 7, Havildar Raghu paid a visit to Shalini, a friend of his wife Usha. Usha went to Shalini’s house to console and support her troubled friend, who was embroiled in a family feud. Raghu, who was sitting in front of the house with his toddler, was confronted by Shalini’s relatives.

Raghu said in the viral video,”I took my child out and sat on the scooty. The road was blocked by Shalini’s relatives who were armed with iron rods. They tried to murder me. When I asked them why are they confronting me, they told that I should not visit Shalini’s house.”

“While I was talking to them they attacked the ladies and for self-defence, I had to attack a person called Kumaresan and escaped along with the women who were injured. I took them to the Krishnagiri GH,” he says in the video. Raghu also stated that the inspector at Krishnagiri’s B3 Taluk police station ignored his complaint, forcing him to file a complaint with the Superintendent of Police office.

Raghu claimed that officers at the SP office told him to take his wife to the General Hospital for treatment, but no complaint was ever filed until that point. On January 12, an Inspector, a SI, and a constable arrived at Raghu’s house early in the morning and summoned him to the police station as part of usual procedure.

Raghu said in the video, “They asked me to sit in the room and asked me to tell them the details. They were getting only my details but they did not ask anything regarding the case. They made me sit in the station without food or water and in the evening, I was asked to take a Covid test in the GH. When I asked why they asked me to cooperate and then they gave me arrest intimation.”

He added that despite his attempts to explain to the police that he is an Indian Army soldier on duty, he was taken to a magistrate and placed in judicial custody until January 25. However, he was granted bail on January 22 due to the intervention of his regiment, he added.

This video was shared by Youtuber Karthik Gopinath, who claimed that DMK councillor Ramesh shielded the goons who attacked Havildar Raghu and his wife.

Karthik Gopinath also shared a video of Shalini’s relatives assaulting Havildar Raghu and his wife, which was covered by Polimer news.

This video, shared by Karthik Gopinath, depicting the ordeals of another Army soldier, Raghu, at the hands of DMK councilor Raja, quickly went viral on social media. National media outlets, including Times Now, later covered the story.

Later, Krishnagiri Police responded to Karthik Gopinath’s tweet, saying, “Raghu in this video has 3 cases against him – one assault case and 2-death threat case. All the information posted by him is not true. Strict action will be taken against the person who posted this video.”

According to the Krishnagiri police, the 2020 case pertains to Raghu’s clash with his brother Vinodh over a property dispute. A case was registered in 2021 against Raghu allegedly for assaulting and giving death threats his father Perumal again over property dispute. In January 2023, he was reportedly kept in judicial custody for assaulting and giving death threats to another former army man Rajendiran belonging to Metupparai village.

Karthik Gopinath, however, refused to succumb to the intimidation saying “SP Saroj kumar, IPS are u threatening a common man? You think you can abuse your power by “kicking” on my right to freedom of expression like you kicked some youth during protests? I have merely shared what an army jawan has sent me . Don’t bulldoze free speech sir . Jai Hind”

In another incident, the Tamil Nadu government’s Chennai Central Railyway Police issued a notice to YouTuber Karthi Gopinath under Section 160 Cr.P.C. and asked him to appear in person on 18.2.2023 regarding a video he shared showing North Indian workers being attacked by a Tamil man. The notice also stated that failure to appear in person would result in legal action being taken under Section 174 Cr.P.C.

The threat of legal action by Krishnagiri Police against Karthik Gopinath for sharing the video of Havildar Raghu and the summons by the Tamil Nadu government’s Central Raliway Police at the same time are not mere coincidences.

This is viewed as an attempt by the DMK government to silence dissenting voices.

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