Denigrating Facebook Post And Violence In Bengaluru
By A Special Correspondent
First publised on 2020-08-12 15:28:13
About the Author
What is happening in Bengaluru is deplorable and what incited it was abominable. No one has the right to post inflammable, abusive or double-meaning material on social media. That the culprit was a relative of a Congress MLA makes the matter more serious. Anything posted on social media that denigrates a religion or community is anti-national. It incites communal violence and that is exactly what has happened in Bengaluru. Muslims have said that the concerned post on Facebook denigrated Islam and the Prophet.
People have indulged in violence and arson and have, till now, refused to take note of the several appeals for peace issued by politicians cutting across party lines. The Karnataka Home minister Basavraj Bommai has assured the Muslims that strict action would be taken against the guilty. "We will investigate the matter thoroughly, whatever the situation is. However, indulging in vandalism is not the solution. Additional forces have been deployed and the cops have been given a free hand to handle the situation," he said.
DG Halli and KG Halli areas in the city were worst affected where crowds indulged in unlawful activity including blocking roads and arson. A police station was damaged by the arsonists who set the 200 bikes kept there on fire. The police had to resort to lathicharge, tear gas and firing to control the violence. At least three people have died due to police firing and over 100 have been arrested. An FIR has been lodged against the person who posted on Facebook and he is likely to be arrested soon.
Although community leaders have too got into the act to maintain communal harmony, it is clear that violence due to such incidents spreads like wildfire mainly due to rumour-mongering via social media. As long as people believe the fake posts on social media and are aroused to the extent of taking the law in their hands, there is little community leaders can do. The initial madness can never be controlled and it is only after passions cool down after a day or two that things return to normal.
Picture courtesy: Posted on Twitter by Ralph Alex Arakal (@ralpharakal)
