Maria: Misinformation via social media under scanner
The Mumbai police has decided to go all out after the rumour-mongers who attempted to further flare up the unrest in Mumbai between two groups in five different areas in Central Mumbai on January 4.
Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria on Monday said that the unrest aggravated by rumour-mongering and misuse of cellphones, social media to deliberately create a “riot-like atmosphere”. The police has zeroed in on few pictures that were circulated especially on WhatsApp groups one of which was a picture of a dead biker and the other one was of an incident in Karnataka. Both these pictures were being circulated as pictures from Mumbai’s January 4 communal unrest.
Mr Maria said, “It’s a very big challenge to tackle rumour-mongering which is equally dangerous to riots. There are people who are deliberately creating such an atmosphere. The special branch as well as the crime branch and the social media laboratory are after these rumour-mongers. We are in touch with Central agencies as well.”
Mr Maria referred to a photo of a dead boy who was killed in a fatal accident but his photo was circulated as if he died in the riot. Mr Maria said his men were also trying to track location of another video showing a place up in flames and learnt that it was a place in Karnataka that had nothing to do with Mumbai.
Mr Maria had rushed to the spot after which the unrest was controlled in an hour’s time. Five FIRs have been registered at Bhoiwada, Kalachowkie, Worli and Byculla police stations against over 100 unknown accused who rioted, pelted stones and burnt a vehicle.
The Bhoiwada police have now added Section 505 (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report) of Indian Penal Code and section 66A (punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc) of the Information Technology Act) to one of their FIRs.
The top cop said that they are taking help from all network service providers. Also, they will be tracing those people who posted messages on Facebook and Twitter. The commissioner thanked the electronic media for not covering the riots live that could have further worsened the situation.
He also said that henceforth rash and negligent drivers would not be spared even if they are part of a procession rally or any other festival. The organisers of such a rally would be intimated in advance and a special drive will be carried out during festivals to ensure rash driving doesn’t take place.
