Gurugram Police arrests TV Channel editor for alleged false, misleading post on Nuh violence

Mukesh Kumar, who holds the position of resident editor at Sudarshan News, was apprehended from Gurugram's Sector 17, police said, reported NDTV.

Initially, the channel had claimed that Kumar was "abducted" by unidentified individuals, said the report.

However, the Gurugram Police later clarified that he had been arrested by the Cyber Crime division.

On July 31, clashes erupted in Nuh, a predominantly Muslim area, resulting in the death of six individuals. The violence ensued when a procession organized by Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) was attacked by mobs. Among the deceased were two home guards and a cleric.

Kumar posted a tweet alleging that the Gurugram Police's actions against 'Hindu activists' were under the influence of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel.

He further claimed that the foreign media organization had been contacting Gurugram Police Commissioner Kala Ramachandran, asking her to initiate measures against Hindus in relation to the communal clashes.

"The @AJENews (Al Jazeera News Channel) has been making calls to the Gurgaon Police Commissioner and pressuring her to take action against Hindus. And after receiving the call, @DC_Gurugram comes under so much pressure she picks up Hindu activists from anywhere," read Kumar's post on August 8.

The Gurugram Police rejected  Kumar's post as "unfounded, untrue, and deceptive," and filed a case against him under the applicable sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

In response to the First Information Report (FIR), Sudarshan News stated that  Kumar had travelled to Mewat to provide assistance to Hindu activists.

The channel asserted that Kumar was abducted by individuals described as "goons" from his vehicle in Gurugram's Sector 17.

"This arrest is totally illegal and wrong. Sudarshan News stands by Mukesh Kumar ji and considers the arrest an attack on media freedom," the channel tweeted.

Sudarshan News' editor-in-chief, Suresh Chavhanke, took to social media to express concerns and raise questions regarding the arrest of Kumar.

"Why didn't the police arrest Mukesh Kumar in uniform? Is the Haryana government bowing down to the ego of an officer? Where are the organisations of journalists and human rights?" Mr Chavhanke wrote on Twitter, creating a social media firestorm.

He issued a warning to the Gurugram Police, indicating that he would make a significant announcement on Saturday if they did not release Kumar.

"Let us see which Hindu men are with us," he wrote on Twitter.

Afterward, approximately an hour later, he asserted that Kumar had been released; nevertheless, the Gurugram Police have not issued an official statement on the matter.

Mobile internet and SMS services suspension in Nuh has been prolonged until Sunday, as the situation in the district remains tense.

As of now, 393 people have been arrested, and 118 have been placed under preventive detention in relation to the violent incidents.