The combined power of the mobile phone, the Internet and the social media was on display in the crisis that led to thousands of people from the northeast fleeing Bangalore. What became clear was that rumour-mongers did not belong exclusively to either the northeast or the Muslim community. There were also other groups who may have helped fan the panic.
In mid-July this year, a Pakistani news portal, columnpk.com, carried an image of Buddhist monks wearing masks amid a sea of mutilated bodies. It turned out that the image was of the July 2010 earthquake in Tibet where the monks were engaged in relief work.
But the portal carried the image with the tag “The body of Muslims slaughtered by Buddhist Barma [Myanmar].” By the time protests from the Tibetan groups forced the portal to withdraw the image, the damage was ostensibly done.
The image went viral on the Internet and two weeks ago it found its way into the pages of a local Urdu newspaper, which also passed it off as proof of Muslim persecution in Myanmar. This image, along with a copy of the Urdu periodical, was presented to the Karnataka government as part of a dossier submitted by the northeast groups here on Thursday. There were emails and text messages calling on people to avenge the deaths in Assam and Myanmar.
Text messages played a particularly vicious role. A staccato SMS in Hindi sent to a Nagaland girl by her landlord’s help read: “Madam, do not get out of your house. There is lot of panga [trouble]. People from your caste [community] are being beaten. Seven women have been killed in Yelahanka [a suburb of Bangalore]. Don’t go to college tomorrow. I am only trying to help.”
There were several similar messages that claimed that people had been killed, raped and assaulted.
On their part, members of the northeast communities too relied on rumours rather than going by hard facts.
Vague statements
Asked to substantiate shocking claims of kidnap, assault, molestation and intimidation, they invariably came up with statements like, “It happened to a friend of a friend.” While some of these claims were quite elaborate in their description, these “details” differed from person to person. A popular rumour was that a girl from the northeast had been kidnapped. Some claimed that she had been killed, while others said she had been released and had gone home.
The surprise entrant in this war of propaganda was Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga’s Bhagat Singh Kranti Sena. On Facebook, the Sena claimed that a fatwa had been issued to people from the northeast to leave Bangalore by August 20 or face riots. Another post warned of counter-violence, if these communities were threatened, in Delhi.
To be fair, there were also Facebook posts such as these: “Bangalore Muslims are not against people from the northeast. Please do not spread rumours. We want peace. Bangalore is for everyone.”
Keywords: Assam ethnic violence, Assam riots, Bodo-Muslim clashes, North East issue, North Easterners exodus, Bangalore exodus, social media, social networking
These are the times when this country is tested whether we still beleive in the freedom of speech or not.We should continue to believe in that.As far as mischeif by social media is concerned the most people returning to northeast has given the reason for their return as worried family backhome and they niether trust nor believe that the union govt or state govt or city police is going to provide them security.The law and order is last concern for the police and politicians.
Well, it is true that social networking sites can be used to stir up commotion. But
equally true, a qualified and pro-active police force could the very same social media sites to obtain valuable information about criminal elements & the IP addresses of these miscreants. In fact, the police should have used the very same social media to broadcast its own messages. Case in point, in the recent Geetika suicide case, suspect Gopal Kanda was able to erase Geetika'a Facebook postings beating the police to that task.
Clearly, India's law enforcement officials have to become savvy in leveraging the possibilities offered by social media rather than carping about them and hoping
the can be legislated away.
Instead of banning and blocking Facebook, Twitter etc, nab and prosecute those who use these forums for spreading propaganda and rumors. The entire problem started with morphed photos transmitted on cell phones and published in Urdu newspapers. I am sure the government isn't contemplating banning mobile phones/telephone companies and Urdu print media. So why single out Facebook and Twitter which are truly democratic and promote a healthy logical debate on everything. Anything in bad taste on the Internet dies a natural death. So better leave it alone.
Indeed damage has already been done to the people of NE,whether it was Rumour or truth. Government must understand the problem already faced by people in the NE itself which include many resentments on socio-political domain. And this is going to add fuel such problem further. It is important that special care is taken by all concerned a cross party line and ensure that people from NE are protected at all time at all place. We should not be treated or taken for granted on any count. The government (state or Central) must compensate the expenses incurred in leaving the place and make arrangement for their return.
It is just a sad state of affairs. as the hindi idiom goes 'Bandar ke haath mein ustara' its the same nowdays for people who have Facebook account, with their absolute power of anonimity they feel they are priviledged to write any crap on the internet, spit venom and just get away with it.
Mahatma gandhi will shed tears even in his grave by seeing the plight of
vaious sections of the society. Barbarians are de facto ruling and the
rulers have become Dhiruthirashtras. It is strong leaders like
Miss.jayalalitha who alone can do something to unite India. Political
farce in the name of coaliation, compulsions etc are pushing the
country to anarchy. It is time general elections are preponed and people
choose a stable government to be lead by strong leaders.
I don't understand why a sect of our fellow citizens are worrying
about Burmese Muslims in Myanmar.. Is it only because of the
religion?? Its sad when primordial loyalties like Religion, Caste,
language are top priorities..Its a same case for Tamils in Sri Lanka
too..Where is Unity of India?? Are Religion and Language greater than
the Country??
There are many people killed in Africa and also India..But Why worry
about people in a country of a particular religion alone?? Why can't
we just see people as humans all the world n help them..instead of
branding only a few and owning them.
Long before social media came, Pak TV had telecast fake clips of a
burning house of then captain of Ind cricket team, Mohd. Azharuddin.
So I am not surprised that in Pak, Tibet earthquake pics are shown as
pics of Burmese massacre.
Neither did anybody here protest the brutal crackdown in Bahrain by
Saudi forces. This kind of behavior by communities in the subcontinent
cant be blamed on social media.
The north east people were perfectly at home here in Bangalore. Mischief
makers should be dealt with an iron hand. Its highly commendable that
Muslim leaders came out and pacified the North east community.
Media will have to play a pivotal role in this grim situation and prevent any mis-happenings. How can a secular, mulch-lingual and multi ethnic country like India survive if such incidents incited by some people for their personal gains continue taking place.
India as a whole is known world over for non violence,peace,co-existence,tolerance and
mutual respect.South India is more known for hospitality and concern for others.In a
globalized economy every one moves from one state to another for education,employment
and decent living.There are thousands of Malayalees in Assam,Tamilians in
Delhi,Karnatakas in West Bengal and so on.Our mother land is only one.Unfortunately
fear,jealousy and egoism are characteristics of developing countries like India.The act of
Home Minister of Karnataka to visit Bangalore City Railway Station and meet the NE
students is timely and praiseworthy.Similarly one statement of Hon.CM TamilNadu is
sufficient to assure safety and security of every citizen in TN.The rumor mongers should be
exposed by media and their bad intentions brought to light.
"Mischief" is a fairly sinless word in this context. Propagation of doctored photographs, along with misconstrued or fabricated facts on social media with the intent of provoking outrage is a more evil action. Such people are outraged by something and want to make their outrage justified by making others outraged. The people sharing these articles become mere pawns. People should question the authenticity of what they see on social media and consider the merit of the information and its source before blindly propagating it.
Unless even the small incidents is ruthlessly cracked down upon, this could explode,
stepwise.
First, the remaining NE states, where the more aggressive tribes such as Nagas,
Gorkhas, etc are peacefully staying, may get kindled from the returning
Blreo/Hyd/Mumbai people, and incidents might start off against muslims in those
places.
Secondly - worse - this might get the color of a hindu-muslim situation. That would
push it out of hand.
Govts and leaders have to stop all incidents, across India, now.
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