Right-wing accounts amplify false claims of child detention at Sabarimala
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In a recent incident at the Sabarimala hill shrine in Kerala, a video of a young boy crying inside a bus has sparked controversy as right-wing accounts on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), spread a false narrative about the child being detained by the Kerala police.
The video, which showed the boy separated from his father during a pilgrimage, also depicted a police officer attempting to console the distressed child.
Several right-wing figures, such as Mr Sinha, a self-proclaimed Hindu rights activist, and Rishi Bagree, a BJP supporter, shared the video with misleading captions, alleging that the Kerala government was committing 'atrocities' against Hindus.
BJP's IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also joined in, criticizing the Pinarayi Government for poor arrangements at the shrine.
However, a closer examination of the video reveals that the boy was crying for his father, and the police officer was actively trying to reassure him. Within minutes, the child's father appears, putting an end to the distressing situation.
Despite the clarity in the video, right-wing accounts manipulated the narrative, claiming the boy was detained in a police vehicle. The misinformation was further fuelled by the colour of the bus, conveniently misconstrued as a police vehicle.
The Kerala police have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, leaving room for speculation and deliberate mischief.
Meanwhile, the Congress party in Kerala also used the image of the crying boy, alongside another child, to criticize the Kerala government's handling of pilgrim grievances at Sabarimala.
When confronted about spreading a similar narrative as the right-wing accounts, the INC Kerala handle defended its use of the photo, stating that the image was chosen for representational purposes, emphasizing the suffering of children during the pilgrimage.