Udupi Police under fire for not registering case against Rashmi Samant's false claims
Police have booked YouTube channel, one user for spreading fake news on Udupi incident
Udupi: The District Police is facing criticism for not registering a case against self-proclaimed Hindu rights activist Rashmi Samant for spreading fake news related to the viral video of a student in a Udupi college restroom.
The Malpe Police sub-inspector has taken the initiative and filed an FIR against the administration of Nethra Jyothi Paramedical College and three students allegedly involved in the incident. Additionally, cases have been registered against One India YouTube Channel for disseminating fake news, as well as against one social media user who shared it. However, Rashmi Samant has not been booked in the case, prompting questions from the public about the reason behind this omission.
ALSO READ: Fact Check: How self-proclaimed Hindu rights activist is spreading false claims on Udupi incident
Rashmi had tweeted on her account that the three accused students, who were Muslims, had placed hidden cameras in female restrooms at their college to record hundreds of unsuspecting Hindu girls. She further claimed that the recorded videos and photos were circulated within community WhatsApp groups by the perpetrators.
Let me tell you, many of the girls who were featured in the videos are depressed and disturbed to the extent that they are contemplating self-harm/suicide. Yet, this issue is not being condemned with the severity it deserves.
— Rashmi Samant (@RashmiDVS) July 23, 2023
If you have one last bone of conscience left in you, talk about what happened to the Hindu girls in Udupi so that they don't dare to mess with our girls again.
— Rashmi Samant (@RashmiDVS) July 23, 2023
In response, Udupi SP Hakay Akshay Macchindra called a press conference to address the case and declared Rashmi's claims as false. He clarified that the accused students and the student in the restroom were acquaintances and that the video was filmed as a prank. The police found no evidence of hidden cameras in the restroom, refuting Rashmi's claim.
As the incident gained communal undertones due to Rashmi's tweets, the police debunked this notion as well. SP Macchindra emphasized that the student in question was neither harassed nor blackmailed by the accused or anyone else. Furthermore, the claim made by Rashmi regarding the mental state of several girls due to similar incidents was contradicted by the local police, who stated that the incident was isolated and involved only one girl. The college chairperson also confirmed that no such incident had occurred before in the college, labeling Rashmi's claims as baseless.
Rashmi Samant, a native of Udupi district, had faced previous controversies due to her social media posts being labeled anti-Semitic, racist, and transphobic. Consequently, she was forced to resign from her position as President of the Oxford University Students Union within just five days of her election in 2021.
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Youngster alleges assault at Forest Office in Kadaba; Admitted to Puttur Hospital
Kadaba: A 27-year-old youth has alleged that he was assaulted inside the range forest officer’s office when he had gone there to give a statement in connection with a wild boar hunting case. He has been admitted to the government hospital in Puttur.
The injured has been identified as Jeevan (27), son of Monappa Gowda of Konde Mane in Aithoor village of Kadaba taluk. He and Jain Varkey (50) of Kermai were recently booked in a case related to alleged wild boar hunting in Aithoor forest.
According to sources, both had gone to the Subrahmanya range forest officer’s office on Wednesday to record their statements. It is alleged that Jain Varkey was sent outside and Jeevan was assaulted inside the office.
He was later taken to the Kadaba Community Health Centre for medical examination. On learning about the alleged assault, members of the public gathered at the hospital premises and expressed anger against the forest officials.
Locals have demanded action against Subrahmanya Range Forest Officer Vimal Babu and staff members Prakash and Adarsh, who have been accused in the incident. Jeevan has been shifted to the Puttur government hospital for further treatment, sources said.
