August 12, 2023
Gurugram, Haryana
Introduction
In a recent development, Mukesh Kumar, the resident editor of Sudarshan News, a Hindi news channel, has been arrested by Gurugram Police for allegedly sharing inflammatory posts on social media regarding the communal violence in Nuh and other districts of Haryana.
The arrest took place on Friday when Mukesh Kumar was apprehended from Gurugram’s Sector 17 by the Cyber Crime division of the police. This move comes in response to his posts that claimed involvement of “Hindu activists” and alleged pressure from the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel on the Gurugram Police to take action against Hindus in connection with the communal riots that occurred on July 31.
The violence in Nuh left six people dead, including two home guards and a cleric, when clashes erupted during a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) procession. The incident raised tensions in the Muslim-majority region.
Mukesh’s social media posts
Mukesh Kumar’s social media posts, particularly his claim that Al Jazeera had been influencing police actions, were termed as “baseless, false, and misleading” by the Gurugram Police. Subsequently, a case was registered against him under relevant sections of the IT Act.
Sudarshan News responded to the arrest, asserting that Mukesh Kumar had gone to Mewat to assist Hindu activists and that he had been kidnapped by “goons” from his car in Gurugram’s Sector 17. The news channel also took to social media to express its support for Kumar, characterizing the arrest as an attack on media freedom.
Suresh Chavhanke, the editor-in-chief of Sudarshan News, further questioned the circumstances of Kumar’s arrest on social media. He raised concerns about the absence of an official statement and criticized the Haryana government’s handling of the situation. Chavhanke’s tweets generated a wave of discussion on social media, amplifying the issue.
Amidst this controversy, the suspension of mobile internet and SMS services in Nuh has been extended until Sunday due to the ongoing tense conditions in the district. A total of 393 individuals have been arrested, with an additional 118 taken into preventive detention in connection with the communal violence.
Conclusion
As the situation unfolds, there is heightened anticipation about potential further developments. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact media freedom discussions and communal harmony in the region.
