Social activist-Shefali Vaidya, Alt-News founder, out on bail-Mohammad Zubair and Human Rights Activist-Rashmi Samant (Image: From left to right, source: Twitter)
On July 21, the shocking news of a videotape scandal broke at an eye college and nursing home located in Udupi, Karnataka. The investigations revealed that three female Muslim students intentionally placed cameras in the bathrooms of Hindu girls. Later, they shared the bathing clips among groups and people. As of now, the Udupi police have not registered any formal case against the culprits; they are all suspended by the authorities from the nursing home.
As the matter is between two communities and is highly sensitive, much has been said in support of or against this case on social media. Activists have lashed out at the state government for their lack of sensitivity towards the matter. Supporters call it all fake, despite acceptance by the nursing home administration as well as the police.
The so-called fact-checker
On July 24, the founder of the so-called ‘Fact-Checking’ website Alt News, Mohammad Zubair, targeted Hindu activists who posted against the inaction of the police in the Udupi videotape case. Taking screenshots of their Tweet, Zubair called their allegations false and baseless.
Having a history of inciting mobs against Hindu activists, Zubair is doing nothing but repeating the same. The so-called journalist is out on bail for acts like this. He was the one who smartly posted a video framing former Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma, on her ‘Gyanvapi’ remarks. Later, there were protests and calls of ‘Sar Tan se Juda’, burning of effigies, rape and murder threats, and whatnot. Those supporting Sharma even lost their lives, including Kanhaiya Lal and Umesh Kolhe.
Even after this case, Zubair has been doing this with multiple people including Kajal Hindustani, Bajrang Dal and others. Some of the reports by Organiser can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
Hindu activists around Udupi scandal
Activist and social worker Shefali Vadiya on July 24, wrote from her official Twitter account, “Why is NO mainstream media talking about Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz and Aliya, the three Muzlim girls who secretly placed cameras in female toilets of their college and shared the videos and photos in their community WhatsApp groups? This happened in #Udupi!”
Similarly, Human rights activist, Rashmi Samant on July 24, from her official Twitter account wrote, “I’m from Udupi and nobody is talking about Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz and Aliya who placed cameras in female toilets of their college to record hundreds of unsuspecting Hindu girls. Videos and phots that were then circulated in community WhatsApp groups by the perpetrators.”
Taking screenshots of both the post by Vaidya and Samant, Zubair wrote on Twitter, “Will @PoliceUdupi take action against these accounts for amplifying misinformation related to Udupi? “
He further added, “Article by @IndiaToday amplifies the misinformation by quoting these Right-wing accounts, Founder @aroonpurie has a fact fact-check team @AFWACheck, associated with International Fact Check Network @factchecknet, Instead of fact-checking these claims, They amplify misinformation.”
The administration suspended Muslim students
It is pertinent to mention that, the college administration did suspend the accused students, namely Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz, and Aliya. Although no police action has been initiated in the matter, the administration has not denied the allegations, and as per a letter, the students confessed to their crimes.
Zubair is making such allegations against Hindu activists and influencers based on a report by ‘The News Minute’. The report quotes the Additional Superintendent of Police for Udupi, ST Siddalingappa, saying that the incident was an isolated one within the college and had no communal aspect to it. “We looked through the phone and didn’t find any such video. We thoroughly investigated the matter and there is no evidence that the video was shared. It was a one-off incident in the college and has no communal angle to it. The purported victim doesn’t want to file a police complaint.”
The desperate efforts to make his point
The News Minute is itself no less than a propaganda website and was founded by Dhanya Rajendran, Chitra Subramaniam, and Vignesh Vellore. Chitra Subramaniam, the former editor of The Hindu, is known for her investigations into the ‘Bofors scandal’.
Zubair’s Tweet has 1.2 million views, with likes and shares in thousands. What happened with Nupur Sharma is known to all and hence, Samant called it his old tactic.
Responding to Zubair’s Tweet Samant wrote, “Classic @zoo_bear trying to incite mobs against the Hindu women @ShefVaidya like he did to Nupur Sharma. Udupi is my home and I will not be intimidated into silence by the misinformation you peddle in the name of fact-checking. Now I don’t have the time to teach you Kannada.”
Vaidya also supported Samant and lashed out at Zubair’s theatrics. She wrote, “This @zoo_bear guy knows there is no legal basis to his dogwhistling mobs on the #udupi case. The incident DID happen. 3 Muzlim girls did hide a mobile camera in a ladies toilet. They did shoot videos of Hindu girl without her knowledge/consent. Even the @PoliceUdupi accept that. The 3 girls are suspended. That’s also a fact. So where is the misrepresentation? “
The Rebuttal by female activists
Demanding police action against the so-called fact-checker Vaidya wrote, “What Zubair is doing is a clear of criminal intimidation. He is specifically targeting women Hindu voices like @NupurSharmaBJP @kajal_jaihind @RashmiDVS, @smitaprakash and me because he believes in a medieval misogynist philosophy that hates articulate, confident female voices.”
She also drew the attention of the National Commission for Women and cabinet minister Smriti Irani demanding action against Zubair.
Instead of apologising for his misdeeds and spreading misinformation Zubair on the other hand further intimidated the activists, he replied to Samant on Twitter in a very regressive tone. He wrote, “It’s people like you who are trying to incite mob by misleading your readers and now justifying by quoting some unknown YouTube channel “Daksha News 24X7”. Stop playing Woman card when you get exposed.”
When people started coming out in support of Vaidya and Samant, Zubair wrote, “Spread Misinformation, When called out, Says, Look! he’s targetting Right Wing Women, He’s inciting Mob, he’s dog-whistling violence.. Same modus operandi from past one year.”
It is noteworthy that till now, no police action has been taken against the three female accused who placed cameras in the bathroom and video-tapped the Hindu girls. No official statement from the college has been made public.
All the information available in the public domain, including letters and statements, claims that the three female students were sending these clips to curtains groups and chats. Many have associated this case with the modus-operandi of the ‘Ajmer-92’ cases.
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