In a recent incident of spreading misinformation, fake news peddlers and Dravidian Stockists masquearading as journalists, including Alt News’ Mohammed Zubair have been called out for circulating a misleading narrative surrounding the violence in the Nuh region of Haryana.
It all began with Muhammed Zubair, a serial fake news peddler, who shared a video online showing a man in a white shirt firing gunshots towards the mountains from a temple premises where Hindus were allegedly trapped in a hostage-like situation. Zubair claimed that the man firing was associated with the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu organization, and insinuated that the violence was instigated by Hindus against Muslims in Haryana.
EXCLUSIVE: You See the guy shooting from inside Nalhar Shiv Temple in police presence? #MewatAttack
There are many 'Activists' in T-shirt which has 'Bajrang Dal Sonipat Haryana' written on it. Who's the guy shooting? Thread 👇 pic.twitter.com/9OKks8mz34— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 2, 2023
However, crucial details were omitted from Zubair’s narrative. The man in the video, identified as Ashok Baba, revealed in an interview with a news channel that the gun he used was licensed and that he fired in self-defense. According to his account, Islamic extremists were attacking Hindu devotees inside the temple, putting the lives of several women and children at risk. After witnessing continuous firing from the mob, Ashok Baba took action to protect those inside the temple.
Ashok Baba, a VHP worker and lawyer, stated that he has been a witness in several criminal cases and has helped apprehend criminals with bounties on their heads. Due to the threats he faced, the government issued him a licensed weapon for his personal safety. He clarified that his firing was not aimed at aggression but was a measure to deter the attackers and safeguard innocent lives.
This version of advocate Ashok Baba has been corroborated by the police officer who led the police squad that saved the 2500–3000 Hindus trapped in the temple.
In a video of India TV, the IPS officer recounted a planned attack on Hindu devotees who had gathered for the Jalabhishek Yatra during the auspicious Monday of the Shravan month. The attackers, armed with both stones and sophisticated weapons, were Islamists.
The IPS officer described the situation in Nuh as highly critical on the day of the violence. When she arrived, she was informed that around 2500 to 3000 people were trapped at the Nalhar Temple.
Mamata Singh further elaborated on the challenges faced by the police while attempting to rescue the Hindus stranded at the Nalhar Temple. She recalled how there was continuous heavy firing from the hills surrounding the temple on three sides. Despite a substantial police presence, they were vastly outnumbered by the rioters.
The incident, however, took a different turn when several Islamists, leftists, Dravidian Stock journalists and DMK IT wing members shared the video, falsely claiming that it was the BJP and “Hindutva Groups” that were instigating violence in Haryana. These misleading posts further fueled tensions and animosity between communities, escalating the situation unnecessarily.
In a tweet, Sathiyam TV news anchor Aravindakshan shared the video without providing the complete context and implied that Hindu extremists were attacking in the presence of the police with sophisticated weapons. His inflammatory remarks targeted the BJP and “Hindutva Groups,” adding to the divisiveness of the situation.
இந்துத்துவ தீவிரவாதிகள் போலீஸ் முன்னிலையில் அதிநவீன துப்பாக்கிகளுடன்,தாக்குதல் நடத்துகிறார்கள்
அநியாயம் செய்றானுங்க.. https://t.co/6aKDk11BjI
— Aravindakshan B R (@RealAravind36) August 3, 2023
However, Aravindakshan’s tweet failed to present the other side of the story and omitted crucial information about the licensed gun used in self-defense by Ashok Baba. This irresponsible behavior by a news anchor has raised concerns about media ethics and the dissemination of accurate information.
Spreading half-truths and misleading narratives can have severe consequences, exacerbating tensions and inciting further violence. Authorities are now urged to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against those found guilty of spreading fake news and inciting violence through misleading narratives.
(with inputs from India TV)
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