The complaint said the offensive statements were posted in the runup to and during the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya this week.
Team Clarion
BENGALURU — A civil group of concerned citizens have filed a complaint with the Bengaluru Police demanding action against social media posts containing hate statements against Muslims and Christians.
The complaint said the offensive statements were posted in the runup to and during the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya this week.
The group named Campaign Against Hate Speech (CAHS) on Wednesday said it had filed the complaint with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Division, on Tuesday.
CAHS is a group of concerned activists, parents, lawyers, academics working to combat hate speech by sections of media and individuals. It also works to ensure compliance by media houses to law and ethics regarding hate speech.
“We filed a complaint against the vile videos & tweets targeting Muslims by a series of rightwing users on twitter. @DCPEASTBCP assured us that action will be taken against them for inciting hatred & vitiating the fraternal atmosphere of Karnataka. If U see hate, act against it!,” posted the CAHS through its X handle along with a copy of the complaint.
It added “Each hateful tweet that a person is not held accountable for, encourages them to be more hateful. Small account or big, each troll must be tried for offences under 153A, 153B, 295A, 505 of IPC and S 67 of ITA”.
According to the complaint, the group has submitted links of 26 posts and videos published on X.
“We are writing to bring to your notice certain hateful tweets and videos on social media platform Twitter. On the occasion of the consecration of Ram Mandir, many individuals in exercise of their fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression were remembering the illegal demolition of Babri Masjid,” reads the complaint.
With regard to the demolition of the mosque, the complaint reminded that the Supreme Court in its Ayodhya verdict observed “the damage to the mosque in 1934, its desecration in 1994 leading to the ouster of the Muslims and the eventual destruction on 6th December 1992 constituted a serious violation of the rule of law”.
The complaint alleged that some individuals on social media used derogatory cuss words against Muslims. The contents of the videos not only contain hate speech, but threaten acts of violence towards Muslims, both locally and nationally. In particular cases, individuals are being threatened by making statements about raping their female family members.
In its complaint, the civil group reminded the police of the directions issued by the apex court with regard to hate speeches in which the court asked the police to file an FIR against hate speeches suo moto even if a formal complaint is not filed.
“We have been forced to approach your high offices as both the inspectors at the Shivajinagar cybercrime police station and at the Shivajinagar police station refused to not only file the FIR suo motu but also refused to accept our complaint and give us an acknowledgement in violation of the Supreme Court judgment in Shaheen Abdullah case,” the group’s complaint said.
