Hindu Aikya Vedi chief booked over Facebook post linking Muslims to terrorism
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The Thrikkakara Police in Kochi have registered a case against Hindu Aikya Vedi president R.V. Babu over an allegedly Islamophobic and defamatory Facebook post that linked the Muslim community to drug trafficking and terrorism.
The remarks were made in the backdrop of the Kerala Police’s anti-narcotics campaign, Operation Toofan, after Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala sought the support of Samastha leader Jifri Muthukoya Thangal for the state’s anti-drug initiative.
In his Facebook post, Babu said it was appropriate for the Home Minister to seek Samastha’s support for the campaign, but claimed that the organisation’s leaders should take the lead because, according to him, a majority of those involved in narcotics trafficking and smuggling in Kerala belonged to the Muslim community. He further alleged that "whether it is drug trafficking or terrorism, nothing happens here without the knowledge of 'njammante aalkaar'"—a derogatory slang term used to refer to Muslims.
The case was registered following a complaint filed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Ashraf Vazhakkala, who alleged that Babu’s post contained false and baseless statements that defamed the Muslim community and its leaders, and had the potential to incite communal disharmony.
Based on the complaint, police booked Babu under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Kerala Police Act for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups, hurting religious sentiments, disseminating false information, and causing public nuisance.
Police said Babu will be summoned for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
Hindu Aikya Vedi is a Hindutva organisation in Kerala associated with the RSS. Babu has faced multiple allegations over the years over alleged Islamophobic remarks.