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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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
