Slain youngster Faazil's father appeals police for action against media that misreported case facts
Questions Karnataka MLAs, Ministers if arrested accused should be encountered
Mangaluru: Umar Farooq, the father of slain youngster Mohammed Faazil who was brutally assaulted and killed on Thursday, has requested the police department to take action against media houses that misreported the murder case and presented false angles to the case.
Speaking to Vartha Bharati after the cops on Tuesday arrested six accused in connection with the case, Umar Farooq said that while the cops are taking action against people spreading rumors and false information on social media regarding the case, they should also file cases against the media houses that misreported the incident.
He also added that ADGP Alok Kumar and Mangaluru Police Commissioner N Shashikumar delivered on their promises and arrested the accused. “My family is indebted to them.” He said.
“Police are initiating action against people spreading rumors and fake news in this regard on social media. But some of the media houses misreported the case and linked it to a love affair, a Sunni-Shia issue, and reported false information about Faazil while we were grieving the loss of my son. Those media houses should also be booked and action should be taken against them.” He added.
“The investigations have proved all those false angles wrong. Everything is clear now. Now the police should take action against these media houses.” He further added.
“A few days back some of the MLAs and Ministers said people involved in such crimes should be encountered. Now I want to ask them whether the people arrested in connection with the murder of my son should also be encountered?” he questioned.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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