THE WORLD IS CONSPIRING AGAINST THE YOGI GOVT
19 FIRs filed, mostly against social media posts and on-air-comments
It is conspiracy time.
The Yogi Adityanath government has registered an 'open' FIR under 19 different sections of the IPC in Hathras against unnamed persons for conspiring to create caste tensions and destabilise the state government.
Curiously, sedition is one of these charges. Also, the cases relate mostly to social media posts or comments on television channels, which are seen as an attempt to misrepresent facts and distort the assault incident.
The UP Police also claim they have uncovered an “international plot” to defame the state government and instigate riots along caste lines. A website which disseminated information on how to protest safely and avoid the police has been linked to the "conspiracy." Most of the content on the site, which is now untraceable, had been copied from Black Lives Matter protesters in the United States, it is claimed.
‘‘There was a criminal conspiracy in the backdrop of the Hathras incident to defame the state government and create social unrest. The victim’s family was manipulated to take a position against the government, after it had a dialogue with the chief minister. Certain visuals projecting CM Yogi in a bad light were telecast on a TV channel. Some social media posts were put out with intent to spread caste hatred and incite unrest," one of the FIRs states.
Putting the multiple FIRs in perspective, media sources said there was a concerted attempt by the administration to reinforce the belief that there is more to the case involving the fatal assault on the young Dalit woman than meets the eye.
"There is a deep conspiracy in Hathras, we will investigate the truth," senior IPS officer Prashant Kumar said; he is among the many who subscribe to this view.
"Some accused are circulating material that could trigger caste-based conflict and these are serious offences considering the current situation in the region," the officer added.
Sources said the chief suspects are politicians and journalists whose telephonic conversations with the victim's family indicate that they were provoking them to give statements against the government.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, going on the offensive, has slammed the Opposition, saying they are "hatching newer conspiracies" to trigger riots and hamper development.
"Those who do not like development (vikas), they want to trigger communal and caste riots in the state and in the country," he said.
The media glare on the Hathras tragedy has clearly unnerved the local administration, said sources. No wonder, soon after Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad visited the assault victim's family on Sunday, a case was registered against him and 400 others, accusing them of violating a ban on large gatherings. However, no action was taken against some 500 men who had gathered in support of the gang rape accused.
‘‘Such solidarity meetings are held openly to support the Hathras accused. The victim's family is at risk," said Azad on Monday, demanding special security for the woman's family.
The family is rattled; the UP police have also disputed the victim’s statement that she was gang raped and cited the report of a forensic lab in Agra as proof. But experts question the report, pointing out that it was based on samples taken 11 days after the crime.