Delhi Police identifies 10 social media influencers over Turkman Gate violence, summons one
New Delhi (PTI): A female social media influencer has been summoned for questioning after Delhi Police identified 10 influencers who allegedly spread rumours that the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque near Turkman Gate had been demolished during a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive.
The woman was summoned after social media monitoring teams of the police flagged a video in which she purportedly claimed that the mosque in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan had been razed, a senior police officer said on Thursday.
"Teams have identified at least 10 social media accounts, including one Salman, which were spreading rumours about the drive," he said, adding that the content being circulated was misleading and factually incorrect, triggering violence as many people pelted stones at police personnel.
"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.
Police said the woman has already been summoned after preliminary verification found her claims to be false and capable of creating fear and communal tension. The video, police said, was linked to misinformation surrounding a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque area.
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"The video contained misleading claims related to the recent anti-encroachment drive. Such content has the potential to disturb public order and harmony," a police source said.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan had clarified that he personally had a meeting with more than 120-130 Maulvis days before the demolition.
"I made them understand that no demolition will be done in the Mosque, and only the illegally encroached area will be demolished. We have even told them that they can appeal against the court order," he said.
Another officer said that their social media teams are keeping a strict vigil on all platforms and closely monitoring the content being circulated. "Misinformation will not be tolerated, and those found spreading such content will be summoned," the officer said.
He said that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb public order by circulating rumours or misleading information. "No one will be spared if they are found trying to create panic or communal tension through false narratives," the officer said.
Police also appealed to the public to rely only on verified information and to refrain from forwarding unverified posts on social media platforms. "People are requested not to believe or share unverified content. Any attempt to mislead the public will invite legal action," the officer said.
So far, 10 people have been arrested and a juvenile apprehended for the violence. All are residents of the Turkman Gate area, police said.
Trouble began after social media posts falsely claimed that the mosque opposite Turkman Gate was being demolished, prompting more than 200 people to gather and later pelt stones and bottles at police personnel and civic body workers.
Officers have repeatedly clarified that the mosque was not damaged during the drive and that only illegal encroachments were cleared, including a diagnostic centre, a banquet hall and boundary walls.
The Additional CP Valsan earlier in the day said that adequate deployment of police and paramilitary forces has been made in the area to maintain law and order and that the situation is being closely monitored.
Police said they will continue monitoring social media platforms to prevent the spread of misinformation and maintain peace in the area.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
