Ankit Saxena’s family members are concerned over the ‘fake news’ and hate posts being posted on social media in connection to the murder of the 23-year-old photographer.
“We request people to stop propagating fake messages and morphed pictures of Ankit and his girlfriend on social media. Please spare the grieving family members and let us cope with the pain. Do not harm peace and harmony of the locality,” said Ashish Duggal, Ankit’s cousin.
On Sunday, Ankit’s father and some family members went to Haridwar to complete the last rites.
Mother hospitalised
Ankit’s traumatised mother has been admitted to a hospital where she is under observation, said family members gathered at the victim’s house.
The appeal for peace by the family comes even as Khyala remains tense amid heavy force deployment. Police and paramilitary forces were stationed in the area and patrols were being conducted in the locality on a regular basis.
While the markets were busy and people were seen coming out to sit in the parks, the couple’s affair and the boy’s death remained the hot topic. Various versions of how the incident unfolded were being discussed by the residents.
‘Live peacefully here’
“Our relatives outside the city are asking us about Ankit’s story. We are their neighbour but we also don’t know much. We are also getting information from new papers and news channels,” said Harpreet Kaur, the victim’s neighbour.
The area is calm and people of both communities live peacefully here, she added.
Members of the resident’s welfare association said that they will be organising a candle light march on Monday in the victim’s memory.
