Promoting fake news: Netizens seek FIR against private TV channel
Anantnag: Jammu Kashmir Police came under sharp criticism for not registering an FIR against Arnab Goswami owned Republic Bharat TV for running a fake news about the ransacking of the house of a slain Pandit Sarpanch in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Republic TV which is known for its anti Muslim rants ran a ticker that the house of a deceased Pandit Sarpanch Ajay Pandita Bharti has been ransacked. Pandita was shot dead by militants some days ago in Larkipora area of the district.
SSP Anantnag Sandeep took to Twitter and asked Republic TV to stop spreading fake news. SSP said his house is safe and attached the photographs of the house along with the tweet.
Police sources said that shortly after the fabricated news report was run by Republic TV, SSP Anantnag sought details from concerned SHO, who not only sent the photographs of the house of deceased Pandita to SSP but also confirmed that ‘Republic TV’ has run a fake news.
Netizens reacted sharply to the tweet of SSP Anantnag. Majority of them demanded lodging of an FIR against the Republic TV and the Reporter, even some questioned the conviction of police, saying it is quick to act against local Reporters only.
“Let us assume this fake news would have been run by any local Reporter…..We know about the repercussions,” wrote a netizen.
Police have lodged various cases against the local organizations and Reporters for running alleged fake news reports but at the same it never bothered to act against non Kashmiri media outlets, said another netizen.
A couple of years ago a Kashmiri Pandit known for his communal remarks posted a fake news claiming that Muslims have set a temple in Anantnag on fire. No action was initiated against him as well. (KNT)
