The Times of India (TOI) has hit a new low with its recent article on the arrest of Bangladeshi national Shariful Fakir, who allegedly broke into Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan’s home and stabbed him. Instead of condemning the crime and highlighting the dangers of illegal immigration, TOI chose to spin a sob story, painting Fakir as a victim of poverty and desperation.
It is not clear why TOI is trying to paint Fakir as a person of “systemic injustice”. The fact is that Fakir, the man who allegedly stabbed actor Saif Ali Khan six times, is an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant who entered India by paying a trafficker to cross the border. He then proceeded to steal, break into homes, and stabbed a Bollywood actor even! Yet, TOI’s article reads like a sympathy piece, detailing his struggles, his ailing mother, and his love for Shah Rukh Khan. Are readers supposed to feel sorry for a man who armed himself with stolen tools, targeted a wealthy home, and resorted to violence? Is the Times of India glorifying criminal behaviour?
What’s worse, the article glosses over the fact that Fakir’s illegal entry was facilitated by a network of human traffickers—a glaring issue that the publication barely acknowledges. Instead of calling out the truth about illegal immigrants, the article shifts the focus to Fakir’s “hardships,” as if poverty is a free pass to break the law.
TOI’s attempt to humanize Fakir by mentioning his admiration for Shah Rukh Khan is laughable. Breaking into private property and stabbing someone isn’t the act of an innocent fan—it’s the act of a criminal. By framing Fakir’s actions as a result of his circumstances, TOI is essentially saying that illegal immigration and violent crime are excusable if you’re poor.
The media is responsible for reporting facts, not fabricating excuses for criminals. Instead of spinning a tale of woe, TOI should ask tough questions: How did Fakir cross the border so easily? How could he obtain a SIM card and find work without proper documentation? What steps are being taken to prevent such incidents in the future? These issues matter, not some half-baked attempt to turn a criminal into a tragic hero.
TOI’s article is a disgrace to journalism. Illegal immigration is a serious issue, especially in a country like ours where these illegal immigrants are eating into our resources and causing a steep increase in problems of law and order.
Publications like the Times of India, The Hindu and other media are often seen portraying terrorists as humane, as people with emotions, as coming from “ordinary” backgrounds etc. These are not important stories that need attention, it is the other pressing issues that they are causing that need to be told.
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