Tabrez Ansari lynching: TikTok removes users for posting hate-mongering videos
What's the story
A TikTok video allegedly seeking revenge for the brutal mob lynching of Tabrez Ansari put the Chinese social media application in the line of fire.
After a police complaint was filed, the app confirmed that it has removed the video, and users who made it using the platform.
To recall, Ansari was lynched in Jharkhand last month sparking widespread outrage.
Here's what happened.
Mob lynching
Context: On suspicion of stealing bike, mob thrashed Ansari
Ansari and his friends were traveling from Jamshedpur to Saraikela-Kharsawan's Karsova when a mob attacked them on suspicion of bike theft.
Reportedly, the mob tied Ansari to a pole, beat him for hours, forced him to chant "Jai Shri Ram", and then handed him over to police.
He was sent to custody and his health deteriorated. Ansari breathed his last on June 22.
Video
Shockingly, TikTok users added fuel to fire with their video
Ansari's death once again highlighted why the country needs stringent laws to deal with mob lynching. Undoubtedly, his death was distressing, but what a couple of TikTok users did was equally concerning.
A TikTok group named Team 07, which has nearly 4 crore followers, spewed venom on the platform, using Ansari's death as a tool.
The group comprised five members.
Clip
"Don't say Muslims are terrorists if Ansari's son takes revenge"
In the video, five men, identified as Faisal Shaikh, Hasnain Khan, Faiz Baloch, Adnan Shaikh, and Sadhan Faroqui, supported Ansari but made provocative statements.
They purportedly said, "You may have killed that innocent Tabrez Ansari, but tomorrow if his son takes revenge, do not say that all Muslims are terrorists."
While the video was duly criticized, Shiv Sena activist Ramesh Solanki filed a complaint.
Statement
Police official said video can disrupt peace between communities
Solanki told Mumbai Police's cyber cell that the video blamed public at large for Ansari's death.
A senior police official also said the video was dangerous.
"As this 'hate-mongering' video can disturb the peace between two communities and lead to possibilities of communal tension, we have registered an offense against the TikTok account user which was used to post the video," the official said.
Do you know?
Here are the sections under which case was registered
On the basis of Solanki's complaint, police registered a case under IPC Sections 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Action
Subsequently, TikTok said such irresponsible acts won't be tolerated
As the video sparked controversy, TikTok acted accordingly. The app said the video violated community guidelines and it has been taken down.
"Such irresponsible acts will not be tolerated on our platform, hence we have suspended three user accounts and are cooperating with law enforcement agencies," the statement added.
Notably, the three accounts belonged to Hasnain Khan, Faisal Shaikh and Sadhan Faroqui.