The accused shared objectionable images with false claims about a Hindu girl being raped and murdered by a Muslim youth, aiming to inflame communal tensions
NEW DELHI — A leader of the youth wing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shaurya Mishra, has been arrested by Gurugram police for spreading false and inflammatory content on social media about a girl’s rape and murder that never happened.
Mishra, a vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) in Uttar Pradesh and a law graduate, shared objectionable images with false claims about a Hindu girl rom Gurugram being raped and murdered by a Muslim youth, aiming to inflame communal tensions.
The Gurugram police acted swiftly, registering a case and apprehending Mishra in Uttar Pradesh. He faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act for spreading fake news and promoting enmity. The police emphasised that such posts can cause serious disturbances in society.
Mishra’s social media history shows a pattern of targeting a particular religion and spreading rumours. The incident raises concerns about BJP elements fuelling hatred towards the Muslim community.
Investigators at the Gurugram cybercrime police station found that the images shared were obscene and the accompanying text contained false and fabricated information allegedly designed to inflame communal tensions. “The accused deliberately misrepresented facts and used inappropriate content to spread hatred on religious lines. Such posts can create serious disturbances in society, and the police take these matters very seriously,” said a police spokesperson.
A police team travelled to Uttar Pradesh and apprehended the youth leader, bringing him back to Gurugram for questioning. Mishra was produced before a local court by the police Tuesday, and sent to a judicial lockup.
Shaurya Mishra, whose social media X handle describes him as an advocate and district vice president of the BJYM, had shared the post on December 9. On December 11, Gurugram police wrote in the comment section of this post that no such incident had occurred in Gurugram. “The facts being circulated are completely false. Legal action may be taken for spreading false news,” the comments by the police warned. However, the post was not deleted.
The accused has been identified as Hariom Mishra alias Shaurya Mishra (aged 25 years, LLB), resident of village Charwa, district Kaushambi (Uttar Pradesh),” the police spokesperson said.
