Page 67 - English Tehelka Issue 12 - June 30, 2018

REFLECTIONS
column
Pari Saikia

Assam lynching incident warns us

of the perils of social media

n the era of virtual reality, how The lynching of Nilutpal and Abhi- Coming out together to restore peace
social media can be an unsolic - jeet has caused a furore in Assam. The in Assam and Karbi Anglong district and
ited invitation to danger has been incident has incited anger amongst the to ensure law and order is not disturbed,
proved by the unfortunate incident people of Assam and India, drawing at- the student bodies — Hill State Demand
I of Assam lynching. The inevitable tention from national and international Council (HSDC), Karbi Students Associa-
manifestation of its perilous power is media and politicians. Condemning the tion (KSA), AJYCP Karbi Anglong District
visible in negativity, devouring individu- incident, the agitated crowd took to the and All Assam Student Union (Diphu
als and society via means of fake news, streets, and people have been carry - region), have circulated a letter request-
hate messages, violence-inciting posts, ing out peace marches in various places ing public not to project the incident in
explicit videos or graphics circulated by across the country. Nevertheless, it has a communal light, and to avoid sharing
vested interests. Such content implicitly also caused fear among some tribal com- messages on social media that attack
controls one’s mind. Sometimes, it can munities, especially, young people from communities and also discourage others
get you killed too. That’s what exactly Karbi Anglong living in Guwahati for from doing the same.
happened in Assam when two music quality education and employment, who Social media has penetrated deep
lovers went to explore nature in Karbi feel threatened by the incident, fearing into the pockets of our vast country, its
Anglong district and ended up being what if they are targeted next for aveng- potential and reach, therefore, remains
lynched in cold blood. Reason? A fake ing the killing of the two men. Their wor- its key power in influencing people. The
post on Sopadhora (child-lifters) do- unprecedented hate presently in the
ing the rounds on WhatsApp groups country is a result of a massive social
in that area. media propaganda and misinforma-
Making it to the list of India’s tion that reaches crores of gullible
lynching incidents, two young youth every day. It is imperative for
men- Nilutpal Das (29) and Abhijeet the government to introduce checks
Nath(30) were beaten to death on and balances for such a powerful
June 8 in Karbi Anglong district by an medium of communication. Social
inebriated mob who mistook them media has time and again been used
as child lifters, a rumour that was by propagandists to further their
already doing rounds on WhatsApp agendas using a strategically target-
groups. An illiterate mob which are ed campaign to provoke passions and
not used to outsiders (plus the cir- create a wrong narrative in the soci-
culation of fake news on the intru- ety to suit their purpose. There are
sion of child lifters in that area) took no ries are justified considering hate posts inadequate laws and content regulation
time to react on their suspicion and in- against their communities on Facebook mechanisms in the country today which
humanely beat the two young men until and WhatsApp are already doing rounds further complicate the situation and re-
they succumbed. The mob didn’t wait to which are proof enough for them to look sult in the guilty escaping unpunished.
inform the police or hand over the boys for their own security. It is safe to claim that a majority of
to them. So far, the Assam Police have ar- The ruckus on social media doesn’t social media users never care to cross-
rested 28 people in the lynching incident stop there. Since the incident took place, check a rumour, or information, wheth-
including the main accused, Alphajoz the social media has been flooded with er it is an unsubstantiated matter or real;
Timung, who instigated the mob. Also, 30 hate messages against the people of Kar- nor, is there a mechanism to regulate or
have been nabbed for circulating rumour bi Anglong, posts inciting violence and filter the content that reaches us through
on child-lifters on social media. calling for attacks on some tribal com- WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, email, etc.
Nilotpal was an audio engineer and munities of Assam with the video and Though social media has helped people
Abhijeet was a digital artist working at graphics of the incident are disturbing to connect in real time, engage in discus-
a Goa-based company. They were the in nature. Some perpetrators have used sions, access diverse information, nev-
natives of Guwahati. And, both of them Facebook and WhatsApp for publishing ertheless, the question of credibility of
are victims of ills of social media and the posts urging people to “name-shame” or social media is starkly palpable.
growing intolerance in our society that “teach a lesson” to communities involved
go hand-in-hand. in the incident. letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 30 june 2018 66 www.Tehelka.com

66 The Last Word-Column.indd 2 16/06/18 12:32 PM Add.indd 9 02/05/18 4:41 PM