Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Feb 25: In a social media crackdown, the city police have arrested a minor boy from Konaje for an objectionable post on his social media handle and two more persons for defending Hindu activist Harsha's murder on their page.
Disclosing this to the media on Friday, February 25, Police Commissioner N Shashikumar said, "We have arrested a minor hailing from Konaje, an SSLC fail, for objectionable posts on his Instagram account named 'Troll King 93’ on temples and many more. In the account we could find derogatory video and photographs. He works as a vegetable vendor in Bengaluru.
The accused had gadgets, softwares required to morph, edit the objectionable post, he added. A case has been filed at the Cyber Police station and the boy will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board, the commissioner said.
When asked about any political party or organization supporting the accused, Shashikumar said, "We have found messages, videos, chats pertaining to particular political parties and organizations but we can't establish that there is support behind the accused."
Two likers of 'Manglore Muslim' page detained
Two persons from Udupi and Mulky respectively have been detained for liking and commenting on objectionable and divisive posts on the controversial 'Manglore Muslim' page.
"The Manglore Muslim page in Facebook was under the police radar for defending Harsha murder and a suomotto case has been filed against the page. We have requested Facebook to track the page origin and its digital footprints. In 2016, 'Mangalore Muslim' page had uploaded an objectionable post which was blocked through a court order," informed Shashikumar.
Speaking further on the detainees, he said, "There was confusion that they liked a post defending Harsha murder but on interrogation, we found that they liked the Manglore Muslim icon. We have released them as of now and asked them to appear whenever summoned in the coming days."
In 2016 Mangalore Muslim page was active for objectionable posts and the page was blocked by court orders. "Now this page is active again with changes in alphabets, where they have removed A from Mangalore", revealed.
Strict social media monitoring, 1064 accounts under scanner
"A special police cell has been closely monitoring social media since January. We have seen a lot of progress in our Social Media Cell under DCP, Law and Order, Hariram Shankar and seven other staff. As many as 1064 social media pages, WhatsApp, Twitter and troll accounts are being monitored", disclosed the police commissioner.
Meanwhile, Shashikumar also clarified that the general public need not worry about their social media accounts being tracked. "It is only the account of mischief mongers on social media who try to disturb law and order, instigate and hurt religious sentiments through objectionable posts that that are being monitored. Social media is a strong weapon. Use it in the right way but do not misuse it," he advised.
Commenters. likers and sharers of objectionable posts equal offenders
"Those who comment, like and share objectionable posts are the equal offenders and ignorance of law is no excuse. It is wrong to say that the accused is innocent when he has an android phone, installs apps, edits and morphs. The accused persons' intentions are very clear by their objectionable posts themselves", warned Shashikumar.
Tracking ‘Muslim Defense force’ WhatsApp group
"The Social Media Cell also kept track of a WhatsApp group named ‘Muslim Defense Force’ comprising 40 members, where they used to threaten their own community girls and their parents through objectionable posts and messages. They claim that Muslim girls are not supposed to roam wearing Burkha to malls and theatres. Parents should prevent them from doing so. If not they have threatened to stop those girls from roaming in malls and theatres wearing burkha", revealed the police commissioner.
He said a detailed report would be sought from DCP, Law and Order, Hariram Shankar and action taken based on that.