NDTV Waters Down Reporting About Terrorist Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi Who Attacked Gorakhnath Temple

Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi, 29, had attacked the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur on Sunday (April 3), injured security personnel and tried to enter the temple with a weapon. Reporting the terror attack, NDTV wrote, “On Camera, IIT Graduate Attacks Cops Outside Gorakhnath Temple In UP”. It did not mention that the attacker’s name was Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi.

When Gopal was arrested in January 2020 for shooting at Jamia protestors, NDTV had written, “Jamia shooter, “Rambhakt Gopal”, was on Facebook Live moments before he fired”. “NDTV especially highlighted Rambhakt Gopal” but ignored mentioned Ahmad Murtaza Abbasi just as an IIT Graduate.

Netizens were quick to highlight the hypocrisy and double standards of NDTV.

Political commentator Pratyasha Rath said, “Yes. IIT education seems to be the primary reason behind this incident. The religious slogan he shouted while attacking Chemistry enthusiasts in Gorakhpur, was ‘There is no religion but Physics’”.

Abbasi’s father said that Abbasi had been suffering from depression since his childhood and the attack on the Gorakhnath temple was a result of that depression. He added that Abbasi thought that the police personnel posted at the temple were out to harm him. In that fear and depression, Abbasi took the extreme step. But Abbasi’s father could not explain why he was carrying a dagger while visiting the temple if the attack was not preplanned.

On Monday (April 4) evening, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the Gorakhnath temple and met the injured security personnel.

Scriptwriter Advaita Kala said that mental health issues should not be abused to defend a terrorist attack. She said, “So much for the “mental health” defence…- it’s time to stop using or rather abusing mental health challenges to explain away radicalism. Enough and more people deal with mental health issues on a daily basis and don’t resort to violence.”

Late Monday (April 4) night, the security agencies probing the attack suspected the role of terrorist organisations in the attack, including ISIS. The agencies found that Abbasi had carried out a recce of the Gorakhnath temple before attacking on Sunday (April 3) evening.

Abbasi had earlier said that he wished police would have shot him dead.

While attacking the temple, Abbasi shouted, “Allahu Akbar”. NDTV did not mention it in its report. Even The Indian Express reported it, saying Abbasi was shouting a religious slogan. It didn’t mention that the religious slogan Abbasi was shouting was “Allahu Akbar”.