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The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) nationalist president, A.A. Rahim, MP, has moved the State constabulary demanding an probe into the seemingly viral. societal media “smear campaign” that helium had instigated, the communally touchy “Kafir screenshot” slurring the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)]’s campaigner successful the 2024 Lok Sabha elections successful Vadakara, K.K. Shailaja, as a non-believer.
Last week, the Kozhikode constabulary arrested and remanded successful judicial custody Jithin Bhaskar, a DYFI leader, who runs a section WhatsApp group, Vadakara Squad, for orchestrating the communally divisive run ostensibly to consolidate Hindu votes successful favour of Ms. Shailaja successful a Machiavellian effort to undermine the chances of her rival and Congress leader, Shafi Parambil.
Subsequently, pro-Congress and United Democratic Front (UDF) societal media handles pivoted against Mr. Rahim, accusing him of utilizing underhanded tactics to make a schismatically communal run communicative successful the Vadakara constituency by starkly juxtaposing the opposing candidates’ respective spiritual backgrounds.
Mr Rahim filed a ailment with the Medical College Police successful Thiruvananthapuram demanding an enquiry. In a Facebook station connected Monday, Mr Rahim said helium would contention the smear run politically and legally and suggested that much constabulary complaints and lawyers’ notices were successful the offing.
Mr Bhaskar’s apprehension had seemingly enactment the CPI(M) connected the defensive. Several leaders, including past CPI(M) legislator K K Lathika, had shared the arguable screenshot connected societal media during the highest of the high-octane predetermination run successful Vadakara.
Under the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, the Kozhikode constabulary had investigated a Muslim Student Federation (MSF) leader, Muhammad Kasim, successful transportation with a defamatory and communally divisive online campaign. However, the probe, based connected a CPI(M) sympathiser’s complaint, ended successful a cul-de-sac, with the constabulary failing to unearth immoderate cognisable grounds against Mr Kasim. Subsequently, the Kozhikode constabulary closed the investigation.
However, the United Democratic Front (UDF) authorities resurrected the probe pursuing a ailment filed by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), MLA for Kuttiyadi Assembly Constituency, Parakkal Abdullah. He accused the erstwhile LDF authorities of disregarding a High Court absorption to reinvestigate the case, including confiscating the integer devices, specified arsenic mobile phones, of the parties progressive for cyber forensic analysis.
Consequently, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered an probe by the District Police Chief (Kozhikode Rural), T Farash. Subsequently, the constabulary arrested Mr Bhaskar and confiscated his mobile phones for forensic examination. Officials said the probe would soon widen to governmental leaders who shared and actively promoted the “Kafir screenshot” connected societal media.
