The Delhi Police on Thursday made six more arrests in connection with the violence. The fresh arrests take the total number of people held so far to 11, including the apprehension of a juvenile.
Photo : PTI
The Delhi Police has identified at least 10 social media influencers for allegedly spreading rumours in connection with the violence near central Delhi’s Turkman Gate. Violence and stone pelting had erupted in the area during an anti-encroachment drive by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) near the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque.
The police said the misinformation campaign, amplified through WhatsApp voice notes and social media posts, triggered stone-pelting during a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive near the mosque on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
10 Social Media Influencers Under Scanner
The police have identified at least 10 social media influencers for allegedly for spreading false claims about the demolition of the encroached area near Faiz-e-Elahi Masjid, according to PTI. One woman influencer has been summoned for questioning after a video posted by her was flagged by the police social media monitoring teams as misleading and capable of disturbing communal harmony, the police said.
“Teams have identified at least 10 social media accounts, including one Salman, which were spreading rumours about the drive,” an official said, adding that the content being circulated was misleading and factually incorrect, triggering violence. “We have prepared a list of 10 influencers whose posts and videos are under scrutiny. We have more people under the radar. Our teams are analysing the content being circulated on social media, and these influencers will be questioned soon,” the officer added.
The police have put multiple WhatsApp groups under the scanner for allegedly circulating misleading audio messages, they said, adding that they are planning to send a notice to Samajwadi Party leader Mohibbullah Nadvi, who was allegedly present on the spot, to join the investigation.
“Our teams had already penetrated several of these WhatsApp groups and actively countered the false narrative, which helped restrict wider mobilisation,” the Additional CP said.
6 More Arrested for Delhi Violence
The Delhi Police on Thursday made six more arrests in connection with the violence. The fresh arrests take the total number of people held so far to 11, including the apprehension of a juvenile. “Six newly arrested accused have been identified as Afaan, Adil, Shahnawaz, Hamza, Atharr and Ubed, all residents of the Turkman Gate area,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan told PTI.
A Delhi court on Thursday remanded five of the 11 people arrested earlier in the stone-pelting case to 13 days of judicial custody.