UP: Social media influencer arrested for making objectionable remarks against Valmiki community
Pilibhit (UP) (PTI): A social media influencer was arrested here after his alleged objectionable remarks against the Valmiki community triggered protests and a road blockade, police said on Sunday.
Station House Officer Naresh Tyagi said the incident came to light after Wasim Raza, from Naugawan Pakdiya village, posted a video on his social media page with the username 'Mr Pilibhit', during a visit to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve.
In the video, he purportedly used derogatory language against the Valmiki community.
Tension prevailed in the area after the video surfaced on social media, prompting hundreds of members of the community to stage a protest and block traffic at Gas Chauraha.
Following the protest, the accused was arrested by Sungarhi police station officials.
A case was registered against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and of the Information Technology Act, and he was sent to jail, officials said.
Members of the Valmiki community alleged that Raza repeatedly made offensive remarks against them and had earlier also made objectionable comments on Hindu deities.
On Sunday morning, angry residents gathered at a Valmiki temple in Nakhasa locality and took out a procession before blocking the road at Gas Chauraha.
Senior officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Vikram Dahiya, City Magistrate Vijay Vardhan Tomar and Circle Officer (City) Deepak Chaturvedi, rushed to the spot with a heavy police force to control the situation.
Following an assurance of action from the authorities, the protesters lifted the blockade.
The FIR was lodged on the complaint of a local, Himanshu Nandan. As a precautionary measure, additional police and Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel have been deployed in Nakhasa and other sensitive areas.
Police have appealed to the public to maintain peace and not to be misled by rumours, officials added.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
