Kerala govt faces flak as Meta blocks Baburaj Bhagavathy known for criticising Left's Muslim bias
Activist co-authored Islamophobia Padanangal, 2024 Kerala Islamophobia Report
Meta acted on police request
Thiruvananthapuram: Facebook has restricted access to the account of Kerala-based journalist and rights activist Baburaj Bhagavathy within India, following a legal request from Kerala Law Enforcement under local laws. The action has raised serious concerns over political censorship and suppression of dissenting voices.
Bhagavathy, an author and co-founder of the Islamophobia Research Collective, is widely known for his work documenting state-sponsored repression, communal narratives, and Islamophobia in Kerala, a state ruled by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
Civil rights organisations have condemned the restriction, describing it as an attempt to silence dissent and suppress voices critical of the state’s treatment of Muslims. The Solidarity Youth Movement Kerala, through its state president Thoufeekh Mampad, said the action amounted to a targeted silencing of one of the state’s most consistent critics of communalism and the misuse of state power.
Bhagavathy is also the co-editor of the Kerala Islamophobia Report 2024, alongside academic Dr. K. Ashraf. The report drew attention to rising anti-Muslim sentiment in Kerala’s media, political narratives, and institutions. His Facebook page had hosted a wide range of writings that critically examined casteism, majoritarianism, and civil liberties violations.
The restriction has effectively cut off Bhagavathy from the digital public sphere within India, even as his work continues to be cited in academic and activist circles. Critics argue that such action is particularly troubling coming from a Left-ruled state that champions itself as secular and progressive.
Bhagavathy was formerly associated with Thejas Daily and currently serves on the editorial board of Maruvakku, a Malayalam-language publication focused on critical political thought.
The case has prompted wider debates around freedom of expression, state surveillance, and the use of social media platforms to curb critical voices. Observers note that this reflects a growing discomfort within governments, including those on the political Left, towards critical engagement and grassroots dissent, particularly when it exposes uncomfortable truths around minority repression.
Meta has yet to issue a public statement, while Kerala government officials have not responded to queries regarding the specific legal grounds for the request.
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Man arrested for for raping mute woman in Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur (PTI): One person was arrested on the charge of raping a 30-year-old woman with speech impairment in Jamshedpur, a police officer said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the Azadnagar police station area of the city, and a case in this regard was registered based on the statement of the victim's brother on Monday.
The victim had gone to fetch water from the premises of a company on Monday evening. When she did not return even after a considerable time, family members went out in search of her and caught the accused red-handed, police said.
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The accused was a caretaker of the company.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Patamda) Bachandeo Kujjur said due to scarcity of water in the area, the victim used to fetch water from the premises of the company.
