The controversy around the film, The Kerala Story has no end. In a recent case, a Dali man from Rajasthan is facing threats and abuses for promoting the film from his social media handles. The incident is from Jodhpur and based on the victim’s complaint the police have registered an FIR.
A 24-year-old man identified as Abhishek Sargara was attacked in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan for sharing the status related to the movie ‘The Kerala Story’ on WhatsApp’. The accused also threatened to slit Abhishek’s throat. The victim is associated with the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
A First Information Report (number–228/2023) was registered at the Udai Mandir police station of Jodhpur district by the victim Abhishek Sargara.
In his complaint, Abhishiek told the police that, On 6 May, Abhishek watched the film and posted this on his WhatsApp: “Must Watch. The Kerala Story according to me, all the girl of this world should watch this film so that your sister and daughters can also be saved from this conversion and their life will be safe”.
Following his status update, two of his known friends met him on the streets and started confronting him about his status. They were angry with him as he was promoting the film.
Pintu and Ali accused Abhishek of maligning the Muslim community and thrashed him. They were joined by six-seven other men. Apart from the attack these people passed casteist slurs and used the word ‘Kaffir’ while thrashing him.
As per the FIR, the accused is Pintu Aman and he has been booked under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention in the criminal act). Apart from these the accused has also been booked under the sections of SC-ST Act.
As per a report by Dainik Bhaskar, Abhishek said he watched ‘The Kerala Story’ on May 6 and posted a status on his WhatsApp regarding the film’s poster. He praised the movie while writing about why every girl should watch to remain safe from conversions.
While returning home on May 6 night, he was stopped and questioned by Ali, Pintu and Aman about the same. They questioned him, “Are you trying to defame our religion?”, “Why did you post the status?”
The victim said that he inquired as to what was wrong with it. His phone was charging at the time inside his house. When they demanded to see the mobile, he brought them to his place and informed his mother that they were his friends. He said he took the mobile outside and as soon as he started showing them, they began hitting him.
He remarked that there was nothing provocative or offensive in his status. He didn’t mean to disrespect anyone’s faith. He just recommended everyone to watch the movie.
After this incident, on May 7, members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) reached Udai Mandir police station and demanded action against the assailants.
VHP’s District Secretary (East) Jitendra Sharma said, “They assaulted one of our workers, who managed to get away and sprinted back inside his home. He only posted a status of The Kerala Story and there was nothing derogatory about anyone’s religion in it”.
Derawar Singh, assistant commissioner of police (ACP) said, “A person reported that he was beaten by three persons and they stopped him on his way. He had posted the status of a film. We have filed a case and are currently looking into the matter. The victim works as a salesperson in a clothing store.”
Notably, The Kerala Story, a Hindi-language film, directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, follows the story of a group of women from Kerala, who have converted to Islam and joined the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. In other words, the movie is about the reality of Love Jihad.
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