Fake news has emerged as a global phenomenon within a relatively short period of time, affecting millions of individuals in a relentless manner on a daily basis. Research on the issue of misinformation/disinformation may have centered around the use of data and statistics for a macro understanding of the problem. However, what is mostly ignored is the human aspect. From the beginning of 2017 to July 2018, 33 people have been killed in 69 incident of mob violence that were fuelled by panic spread on WhatsApp. Spewing venom against minorities is the main agenda of organised misinformation.
On August 28, 2018, a Twitter handle, कोमल (@komal44337466) posted two photos, one had a woman tying rakhi to a Muslim man and the other purportedly showing the same woman in injured condition after being raped by the man. This incident was said to have happened in Gonda district. Later, police authorities clarified that no such incident had ever transpired in their district.
उपरोक्त वायरल पोस्ट में शामिल की गई फोटो दिनांक 21 नवंबर 2016 कानपुर उत्तर प्रदेश में हुई ट्रेन दुर्घटना में घायल महिला की है घटना पूरी तरह से निराधार व असत्य है l @priankajha pic.twitter.com/FPifhd1Gfc
— Gonda Police (@gondapolice) August 29, 2018
Police have also registered an FIR against the Twitter handle @komal44337466. As it turned out, the two photographs shared in juxtaposition had no correlation whatsoever. The disturbing image of an injured woman was that of a passenger recovering from injuries after 14 coaches of an overnight passenger train rolled off the track in Kanpur(UP).
In presenting the facts about the two unrelated images, many media reports have missed the important perspective of an individual who underwent the trauma of being labelled a rapist, on August 30, 2018.
The man in the image is Chandan Khan (28), a businessman from Chhibramau town of Kannauj district (UP). Alt News spoke to Chandan over a telephonic interview, who opened up about the episode and the effect it had on him.
How did you come across the viral post?
On August 30, 2018, I was scrolling through my social media (feed) when I came across this post. Later in the day, I got a lot of calls from my friend and family appalled at the depravity of the claims made on social media. I asked them to remain calm and act in a polite manner while engaging with the individuals who had posted the claim.
How did you feel when you saw your photo being passed off as a rapist?
First of all, it was an emotional shock for me. But, then I tried reaching out to the Facebook user whose post I had come across on social media but there was no response from their side. It seems as if they might have seen my post and they didn’t reply.
Were you abused, threatened on social media after the photos went viral?
Generally, everyone around my locality knows me very well. So, they won’t question me but, many people would have seen this post as it has gone viral. But no, I haven’t been abused by anybody on social media. Interestingly, I was praised by individuals on social media for coming out with the truth and presenting the facts.
What are your thoughts on Rakshabandhan photos promoting communal harmony used to spew hatred against each other?
My locality has a lot of communal diversity and we all live together with love. But there will always be some anti social elements who will incite radicalism and religious extremism. So, I wanted to share this (photo/moment) on social media as my own initiative to promote communal harmony on social media. It was my own small initiative to bring the change.
Are you looking to take any legal action against it?
No, I don’t want to take any legal action against any individual. I also use social media extensively and naming one person will lead to an individual targeting.
An individual who promotes communal harmony was presented as a rapist on social media and a photo celebrating unity in diversity and the secularism that is ingrained in the ‘idea’ of India was circulated maliciously to spew venom and further an agenda of religious hatred against minorities.
The post The other side of fake news: Man who found his Rakhi picture shared with false narrative appeared first on Alt News.
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