Arfa Khanum, a journalist with the online news portal The Wire was caught sharing unverified news that alleged that a Dalit youth was killed for praying in a temple. In her tweet she said “Dalit boy killed for praying in a temple. There’s no community in the world that’s more persecuted and oppressed than the Dalit community in India. When will this tyranny end? #DalitLivesMatter”
Dalit boy killed for praying in a temple.
There’s no community in the world that’s more persecuted and oppressed than the Dalit community in India. When will this tyranny end ? #DalitLivesMatter https://t.co/GSOEvXtGmm— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) June 10, 2020
However, the official account of Amroha poice responded saying that the reason for the unfortunate incident was an internal fight over a sum of ₹ 5,000 and ruled out any caste based violence.
ग्राम डोमखेडा थाना हसनपुर, अमरोहा मे घटना के सम्बन्ध मे पुलिस द्वारा शीघ्र कार्यवाही कर 03 अभियुक्तो को गिरफ्तार कर जेल भेजा गया। दोनो पक्षो के मध्य बाग की बटाई के 5000 रुपये को लेकर विवाद होना विवेचना में पाया गया । पीडित पक्ष की आर्थिक व अन्य साहयता हेतु कार्यवाही की जा रही है।
— Amroha Police (@amrohapolice) June 10, 2020
Vipin Tada, Superintendent of Police of Amroha police station, also clarified that the dispute was over ₹5,000 and that of a Dalit praying in a temple.
Even leading news portals like Hindustan Times, Indian Today and Telegraph had already shared the fake news before the clarification came.
The police officer said that the victim had a deal a group for managing mango fields and honeybee breeding. Dispute arose over the distribution of money leading to the groups fighting. The youth who ran away was then killed. Three men have been arrested and further investigations are on.