FIR against youth for hate speech against Karbi community

GUWAHATI: A youth has landed in the proverbial soup after posting an inflammatory comment against the Karbi community from Assam.

The social media user in question, Bapon Das, commenting on a video on the recent death of a 12-year-old domestic help, said: "Mor mor thotor faale mori naikia hoi jabole de" (Die die in your place may you die and disappear).

Replying to his comment himself, he further wrote, "karbi anglongot goisil amar abhi aru neil moriyai moriyai marise" (Our Neil and Abhi had gone to Karbi Anglong...they were brutally clubbed to death).

He was referring to the violent incident of mob lynching that took place in Karbi Anglong, Assam, in India on 8 June 2018. A mob of about 250 people attacked two men under suspicion of child trafficking and beat the two to death in a case of mistaken identity.

Consequently, several prominent student bodies and civil society organiations - namely KSA, NDKSA, KAWJF, UKWA, KUC -- have jointly lodged an FIR at the Diphu police station and are seeking action against the accused.

They also shared printed screen grabs of the accused's controversial comments.

"With due respect, we beg to state that Mr. Bapon Das has posted hate comments on Prag News Portal has massive ramification on public order, peace, and harmony. Moreover, it is also argued that such hate comment targetting a particular community is a clear instance of promoting enmity and creating disharmony in society," stated the FIR.

Simeon Rongphar, the president of the KSA, told InsideNE that comments like that on social media could sow discord amongst the communities.

"Therefore, we have decided to lodge a complaint. The main purpose of this FIR is to ensure that such hate comments are not made. Although we do not know where this individual is from, we have urged the police to begin an investigation in this regard."

Simeon said that the complainants have been summoned to the police station tomorrow as the in-charge of Diphu police station was not present today.

"However, we have faith that an investigation will soon be launched in this regard,"he added.

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