The Tripura police on Wednesday arrested six people as the State is struggling to counter hate campaigns on social media over recent sporadic communal violence. They were arrested in connection with six of 11 cases registered in different police stations, said a police official.
He said they have also issued appearance notices to three accused named in two other cases. The cases were registered at police stations in Sepahijala, north Tripura and Unakoti districts.
The police said they have registered criminal cases against 71 persons for posting provocative material on social media platforms. “Strict action will be taken against the persons who are trying to create hatred in society,” it tweeted.
Security agencies counted 78,000 tweets till Tuesday night that carried texts, photos and videos of purported communal violence and attacks on mosques, Muslims and properties. Only 30 tweets originated from Tripura and the rest were from several other States and abroad, they said.
Sanjay Mishra, OSD to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, alleged that a systematic and organised campaign has been launched to shame Tripura through fake news. He complained that vested groups are running the campaign from Maharashtra, Delhi and even far off countries like the U.S.
He reiterated the appeal of the State police that none should indulge in posting fake photos and rumour mongering on social media platforms.
In a show of unity and harmony, the Hindu residents of Boxanagar area of Sepahijala district repaired a Panjakhana (Muslim prayer hall) which was partially damaged by miscreants on Wednesday.
The police claimed the situation was peaceful and security deployment continued in some specific areas where a few places of worship and houses were vandalised, and some shops were burnt. Tension erupted in these areas during the rallies of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that was protesting against the recent violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
