The Unnao Police has registered an FIR against senior journalist Barkha Dutt and eight others for spreading "misleading information" through their Twitter accounts in connection with the murder of two minor Dalit girls in Baburha village of the district.
Superintendent of Police, Unnao, Anand Kulkarni said, "All those who tried to flare up tension and disturb harmony through different social media platforms will not be let off. We have lodged an FIR and will conduct a probe into the tweets. The misinformation was deliberately spread by people associated with parties, units and groups which are trying to discredit the ruling government and disturb the prevailing law and order."
The other handles against whom the FIR has been lodged include @BhimSenaChief (run by Nawab Satpal Tanwar), @NilimDutta, @janjagranlive, @SurajKrBaudh (spokesperson, Azad Samaj Party), @vijayambedkarUP, Abhaykumarazad97, and @Rahuldiwkr.
The Unnao police claimed that the users have tweeted false information about the two girls being sexually assaulted and murdered and that the police had threatened the family to perform their last rites giant their will.
These users have been booked under various charges of IPC for spreading rumours to cause riots and under relevant sections of the IT Act.
“We will not spare anyone spreading misinformation to cause tension and disturb peace and harmony,” the SP said.
Kulkarni said that some of the tweets were deleted after the police in a statement stated that the post-mortem did not confirm rape. The SP also added that neither the police nor the authorities have conducted the girl’s last rites, some of their relatives will arrive and then burial rites will be performed, he said.
Barkha Dutt on Sunday, responding to the FIR against her, had tweeted that, “The police denial on attempting an early cremation was reported prominently and we removed a tweet after their statement. However, on the ground, when we spoke to the girls’ family they still say the police wanted an early cremation. This is what we were told.”
"We have reported all dimensions of the tragedy, the family's anxieties and allegations as well as the police response at every step. If this case is pursued, we will confidently defend our journalistic rights and freedom in the court,” Barkha said in a warning tone.
Former MP and Congress leader, Udit Raj was also charged by Unnao police on Saturday for spreading fake information through his tweet.
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