Train mishap fake news finds takers in Karnataka

NT Correspondent

Tumakuru / Bengaluru: Several people in Karnataka and other states have taken to peddling fake news surrounding the train accident in Balasore district in Odisha, which left at least 288 dead and more than 1,000 dead.

One particular tweet by one Shakunthala S from Tumakuru has been doing the rounds. In it, she repeated the insinuation that the train accident had been a sabotage by Muslims and used a cropped image that purported to show a mosque near the site of the mishap. On closer inspection, it was learned that the image in question was that of a Bahanaga ISKON temple.

The false news appears to have originated from the Twitter handle @randomsena who shared the cropped image with the caption: “Just saying. Yesterday was Friday”, referring to the Muslim Sabbath day, a part of which is meant to be set aside for prayer. It is speculated that the operator of the handle resides in Bengaluru.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has gone on record to state that the probable cause of the accident, which involved three trains, including one that departed from Bengaluru, was a signaling error. However, this hasn’t stopped people using the internet to peddle incendiary fake news.

Odisha cops threaten legal action

Odisha Police on Sunday even warned that “legal action” would be taken against those spreading fake news. “It has come to notice that some social media handles are mischievously giving communal colour to the tragic train accident at Balasore.

This is highly unfortunate. Investigation by the GRP, Odisha into the cause and all other aspects of the accident is going on. We appeal to all concerned to desist from circulating such false and ill-motivated posts. Severe legal action will be initiated against those who are trying to create communal disharmony by spreading rumours,” the Odisha Police handle said.