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UP Police Slammed for FIR Against Journalists Over Mob Lynching Post

UP police file FIR against journalists for reporting an alleged mob lynching in Shamli district, sparking controversy. Civil society and media organisations condemn the actions, raising concerns about press freedom and police accountability.

By Aryan Saini
New Update
UP police on mob lynching

UP police slammed for FIR against journalists over mob lynching post | Photo of victim Firoz Qureshi | Photo courtesy: Social Media (Left), maktoobmedia.com (Right)

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The UP police have sparked a huge controversy by registering an FIR against five individuals, including two Delhi-based journalists. The charges, filed under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertain to their social media posts about an alleged mob lynching incident in Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh on July 4.

This incident has ignited widespread outrage, with members of civil society vehemently criticising the actions of the UP police. They are questioning whether the actual crime in this scenario is the alleged heinous act of mob lynching or the act of reporting it. 

The victim in this tragic case, Firoz Qureshi, succumbed to his injuries on July 4 following a brutal assault. According to Firoz’s family, he was the target of mob lynching. Arshad Qureshi, Firoz’s brother, spoke to Chalchitra Abhiyaan, a film and media collective based in Western Uttar Pradesh, revealing distressing details: “Firoz went to the market carrying a speaker, similar to those used by vegetable vendors. Unaware of its volume, he switched it on, which sparked an argument with several individuals. This argument escalated into a violent assault. Firoz was beaten mercilessly with iron rods by a group of people who acted in unison. After the brutal attack, they called the police emergency number, 112, falsely accusing Firoz of attempting to unlawfully enter their house. To this day, I challenge anyone in Jalalabad to prove that my brother would illegally enter someone’s house. If proven, I am willing to accept the punishment. They are turning the victim into the culprit.” 

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Tags: Uttar Pradesh dow-jones Mob Lynching Shamli Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
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