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After four men lynched to death in Tripura over the rumours that they were child kidnappers and cut organs out of children to sell them, more such attacks followed based on similar rumours shared through social networking application in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Though the Union government led called on WhatsApp to take action, Tripura minister ‘validated’ deadly fake news by repeating it in the presence of grieving and angry villagers.
According to the report, the rumour began when an 11-year-old Purna Biswas was found dead near his house in Agartala on June 26. Soon it became the talk of the town that his kidney had been cut out, and a local newspaper published this news too. Though the police denied this report, but it could stop state education minister Ratan Lal Nath from repeating an unsubstantiated report.
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Speaking at the boy’s home, surrounded by his family and a large number of villagers, Nath said, “I am told by the locals that in the back of the dead body there are cut marks from where kidney has been removed. This is simply gruesome.” It was enough to fuel the mob and in just 48 hours four attacks took place, killing four.
Among those killed was Sukanta Chakraborty, who was thrashed, stripped and clubbed until he died. According to the mob, he was out to kidnap children for the organ trade, but in reality was in fact an artist hired by the police to spread awareness and caution people against fake news. Along with the policeman, he was traveling to villages, who failed to stop the mob attack.
Asked about his thoughtless statement, Nath blamed the rival CPM for framing him. he said, “I went to spot as the situation was very volatile. I was voicing what the agitated crowd and the family told me.” Nath is the same leader who was joined BJP in December last year ahead of the state polls, but was a Congress’ state president and also a leader of opposition in the assembly.
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In order to stop the rumours, police finally put out a clarification, saying, “There has been several reports in print /electronic media as well as social media that kidney of the dead body of 11 year old boy was found. Missing. Post mortem reports conducted has confirmed that kidney and liver has been found inside the dead body.”
Photo Courtesy: The Telegraph
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