ANI faces backlash for sharing fake news on attack on Hindus in Bangladesh
New Delhi: A video shared by ANI, South Asia's leading news agency, has sparked outrage for spreading misinformation.
The video, initially shared by ANI, has been shared by others later on claiming that a "helpless Hindu father" is pleading for justice for his missing son in Bangladesh.
However, the man in the video, who is seen wearing a skull cap in others photos holding a photo of his son named Mohammad Suny Hawlader, is actually a Muslim.
The protest seen in the video involved several Muslim families demanding justice for their missing relatives. After being called out for the false narrative, ANI deleted the video, but it had already been picked up by right-wing accounts and other media outlets that rely on ANI's feed.
This fake news was first shared by @smitaprakash' s @ANI which they later deleted after getting called out. The video with misleading caption is now shared by Right wing accounts and other media outlets who rely on ANI feed. The man with a skull cap with a photo of his missing… https://t.co/ifa6Qa9JYt pic.twitter.com/rCGjX0JkX3
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) August 13, 2024
Netizens have questioned how a reputed news agency like ANI could fail to verify the facts before sharing such a sensitive story. While the misleading video has been removed, its impact continues to spread across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, perpetuating the false narrative.
South Asia's leading news agency couldn't verify a news properly before sharing it?
— TIND Posting (@tindposting) August 14, 2024
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
Imagine it got busted here but the news will continue showing on facebook and Instagram feeds.
WhatsApp university would have published a book by now.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Two arrested in K'taka for assaulting minors, uploading CSAM content
Bengaluru (PTI): Two men were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting two minor girls, recording the acts on mobile phones and uploading the videos online as child sexual abuse material, police said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Kumar (29), hailing from Chitradurga district, and Aditya M K (20), hailing from Shivamogga district, they said.
A probe was initiated after information was received from the NCRP portal regarding a suspected instance of creation of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) for online dissemination, police said.
Accordingly, a case was registered at Kaggalipura Police Station under relevant sections of the IT Act on May 10, they added.
Investigation revealed that two minor girl victims were exploited and videos were created and uploaded to the internet. The child victims have subsequently recorded their statements as per procedure and further necessary legal steps have been taken, Pronab Mohanty Director General of Police, Cyber Command, said in a statement.
Based on the statements of the victims, the accused persons, who allegedly assaulted the minors, recorded the acts on mobile phones and uploaded the videos online, were arrested, he said.
Following the probe, sections 65(2) (rape) and 70 (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant sections of the POCSO Act, have been added to the FIR, police said.
Officials collected relevant information and on May 12, arrested the accused persons and seized three mobile phones belonging to them, in which the videos had allegedly been recorded, he said.
The accused were later produced before the court and taken into police custody for further investigation, he added.
According to him, in CSAM cases, police usually apprehend offenders who have downloaded such content or have kept them in their possession after obtaining them from elsewhere, usually the internet.
"The present case is one of the very few instances where content creators and uploaders have been apprehended," Mohanty added.
