Will give fitting reply to false cases against me through legal battle, not afraid of arrest: Zubair
AltNews Co-founder Mohammed Zubair speaks to Vartha Bharati
Bengaluru: AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair who was recently released on bail by the Supreme Court after being arrested by Delhi Police in connection with one of his tweets from 2018, in an interview with Vartha Bharati Zubair spoke about the government’s attack on fair and free journalism.
During the interview, Zubair accused the current establishment of having organized involvement in the spreading of fake news and how it takes political advantage and turns a blind eye to those involved in it. He also added that he would give a befitting reply to the false cases registered against him by fighting the legal battle asserting that he has complete faith in the judiciary of the country.
Below are the excerpts from Mohammed Zubair’s interview with Vartha Bharati:
VB: What do you feel about the case in which you were arrested?
Zubair: The case registered against me is not serious in nature. The background of the complainant is also not clear. I feel the case was only registered against me so that I can be arrested.
VB: Were you questioned or had faced any inquiry before being arrested in this case regarding a tweet?
Zubair: Four years ago in 2018 they registered a case against me over something small that I posted on social media. After that I was taken into police custody now, without any inquiry regarding the case. It was clear oppression.
VB: How many cases have been registered against you so far?
Zubair: Some of the organisations backed by Sangh Parivar have always been targeting me. Currently, multiple cases have been filed against me in Uttar Pradesh. From what I know, four cases have been registered against me in UP, two in New Delhi, and one in Madhya Pradesh.
VB: Do you feel now we cannot restrict spreaders of fake news?
Zubair: Some of the parties have been taking political advantage using fake news. Hence, you don’t see legal action against those who spread fake news. But those who raise voices against this, are threatened and silenced by jailing them.
VB: There are serious charges on deposits into your bank account. What do you have to say about that?
Zubair: It is actually not my personal account. It is our company’s bank account. The money paid by the subscribers was deposited once. There’s nothing unusual about it, but some people have spread rumors that I have received money from foreign countries.
VB: What are your views on false cases?
Zubair: To the false cases registered against me, I will fight a legal battle and give it a fitting reply. There are reports that the police were under pressure to file cases against me even when they didn’t have anything to press charges against me.
VB: What would your message to the government be for allegedly targeting and arresting you?
Zubair: Instead of taking action against those spreading fake news, triggering communal riots, and threatening law and order the government and police have largely remained silent on it. I would ask the government if I am wrong in exposing these elements when they are silent.
VB: Do you fear getting arrested?
Zubair: I am not afraid of the system because I am fighting for the truth. I respect the Constitution of this country and I have complete faith in the judiciary.
VB: Do you think there is a conspiracy to silence journalists who speak the truth by arresting them?
Zubair: The central government and Sangh Parivar-backed organizations target those who question and raise their voice against their ideologies and lies. They harass them by targeting them individually. But you don’t have to be afraid about it. If you are fighting for the truth, and if you are confident about it, nobody can harm you.
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Man chased, brutally stabbed inside public toilet in northwest Delhi; one arrested; juvenile held
New Delhi (PTI): An alleged road rage incident took a fatal turn when a 27-year-old factory worker was chased down by assailants and stabbed multiple times inside a public toilet in northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar area, police said on Thursday.
According to police, the incident took place on Wednesday night, when witnesses saw the victim, Santosh Kumar, running into a public toilet in a desperate bid to save his life, with his attackers hot on his heels.
"A PCR call was received at 6:23 pm on April 8 regarding a man being stabbed inside the compound of a Sulabh Sauchalaya located at the fish market in Wazirpur Industrial Area," a senior police officer said.
A police team rushed to the spot and found the victim lying in a pool of blood inside the toilet premises. The victim, originally from Nepal, was residing in Macchi Market area, the official said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the incident stemmed from an altercation between the victim and a motorcycle rider. The verbal spat soon escalated into a physical scuffle, during which the accused, along with an associate, allegedly attacked Santosh with a knife.
Police sources said in a desperate attempt to save himself, the injured victim ran towards the nearby public toilet and tried to latch the door from inside. Eyewitness accounts suggest he tried to take refuge inside the public toilet and shut the door to prevent his attackers from entering. However, he was chased down, overpowered, and stabbed multiple times.
Santosh collapsed on the spot, where he later succumbed to his injuries, police said.
A case under sections 103(1) (murder) and 3(5) (common intentions) was registered at Ashok Vihar police station and an investigation was taken up.
During the probe, police arrested one accused identified as Tanish (19), a resident of CSA Colony in Macchi Market area, and apprehended a juvenile allegedly involved in the incident.
Police said the motorcycle used by the accused, which they had abandoned while fleeing after the attack, was recovered near the crime scene.
Family members and acquaintances of the deceased expressed shock over the killing. Santosh's uncle, who reached the spot after being informed, recounted the scene.
"When I came here, I saw him lying on the floor, dead. I noticed that he had been stabbed twice. I am not aware of what exactly happened. He was just 27 years old and used to work in a steel company with me. I don't know how many people were involved in the attack. We are from Nepal, and I have been working here for 15 years. I think he was stabbed outside and later came inside the toilet to save himself. There was a bike outside which I think belonged to the attackers," he said.
Police said the motive behind the crime appears to be road rage -- a sudden and heated altercation on the road that spiralled into a violent assault resulting in the victim's death.
Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend any other persons involved in the attack. Police teams are analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area and examining local witnesses to piece together the sequence of events.
