New Delhi, Jan 26: A day after alleged members of Shri Rajput Karni Sena pelted stones on a bus ferrying school children in Gurgaon, rumour mongers on social media cried conspiracy, claiming that the miscreants belonged to the Muslim community. The Gurgaon police was quick to react, thwarting the attempt of a section of netizens to spread communal frenzy.
In a statement released on Twitter, the Gurugram police appealed social media users to pay no heed to such rumours. The police clarified that none among the 18 people detained so far, in connection to the attack on school bus, are Muslims.
This is to clarify that no Muslims boys have been detained in relation to the recent acts of vandalism on a Haryana Roadways bus and a School bus in Gurugram.
— Gurugram Police (@gurgaonpolice) January 26, 2018
The incident of vandalism was reported on Wednesday, when members of Karni Sena took their agitation to the road seeking a ban on the controversy-ridden film Padmaavat.
The bus, which was attacked, was ferrying children of the GD Goenka World School, located in Sohna. The stone-pelting incident drew sharp reaction, with the Opposition as well as the civil society marking their dissent against the state government.
Defending the Karni Sena, a section of social media users tried to shift the onus on miscreants from the Muslim community. Most prominent among them was veteran journalist Madhu Kishwar.
Kishwar drew flak after the Gurugram police issued the note of clarification.
'Factarian' Madhu Kishwar spreads WhatsApp forward communal lies on Twitter, and then wonders why she and her ilk don't get book offers while young Left activists do! Fact checking is kinda basic for academics Madhu ji... https://t.co/8PfkgM99nE
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) January 26, 2018
Kishwar, however, was quick to apologise after being confronted with facts. "My unconditional apology for misleading tweet. Big lesson for future. Wi be far more careful henceforth (sic)," she later posted on twitter.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 26, 2018 01:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).