The complaint was filed after Darbhanga police called out India TV and ABP News for reporting that some flag was hoisted atop a temple and stones were pelted at the place of worship
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — India TV and BJP member of parliament from Darbhanga, Gopal Jee Thakur, have been accused of disseminating a fake report thereby disturbing peace and harmony between two communities of Bihar state.
The minority department of Bihar Congress on Monday filed a complaint with the state police against them demanding legal action.
In his complaint submitted to the state’s cybercrime Superintendent of Police Sushil Kumar, Minnat Rahmani, chairman of the minority wing of Bihar Congress, accused India TV of airing a misleading report on Sunday which has the potential of disturbing harmony between two communities.
The report was posted by Thakur on his social media account to mislead both communities. “It appears that they were trying to incite communal riots by spreading the misleading news,” reads the complaint.
The complaint was filed after Darbhanga police called out India TV and ABP News for reporting that some flag was hoisted atop a temple and stones were pelted at the place of worship.
“India TV reported false and misleading news. No one has hoisted any flag on the temple nor stones were pelted on it. Some miscreants created a ruckus at the peace committee’s meeting and violated the decision taken during the meeting. The situation is under control,” tweeted Darbhanga police.
The police urged people not to pay attention to rumors, maintain communal harmony and help the police identify the miscreants. The police also noted that ABP News also broadcast the misleading report.
The incident happened at the Shivdhara area of Darbhanga where members of two communities clashed over a dispute related to flag hoisting during a Muharram procession.
After Darbhanga police called out the misleading report, India TV deleted the tweet and ABP News removed the video from public-watching category. According to Rahmani’s complaint, Thakur has yet to remove the misleading report from his social media accounts.
“It is a criminal act to spread misleading and fact-less news to disturb the peaceful atmosphere and incite violence against society and the country through rumours and fake news. Therefore, you are requested to take appropriate legal action against Darbhanga MP Gopal Jee Thakur and India TV,” reads the complaint.
