TikTok Deletes "Hate-Mongering" Video Related To Jharkhand Lynching

NEW DELHI: 

Video-messaging app TikTok today deleted a clip accused of "hate-mongering" in connection with the shocking assault on Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand last month. The clip was deleted after Mumbai Police yesterday registered a complaint from Shiv Sena activist Ramesh Solanki. The app has also suspended the accounts of three members of the group - "Team 07", which has nearly four crore followers, - that uploaded the video.

Tabrez Ansari and his friends were travelling from Jamshedpur to Saraikela-Kharsawan's Karlova when they were attacked by a mob. Accused of stealing a motorcycle, he was thrashed for hours and forced to chant "Jai Sri Ram" before police arrived. He died five days later.

"He was mercilessly beaten as he was Muslim. I don't have anybody, no in-laws. My husband was my only support. I want justice," Shahista Parveen, Tabrez Ansari's wife said.

The video deleted by TikTok shows five men - Faisal Shaikh, Hasnain Khan, Faiz Baloch, Adnan Shaikh and Sadhan Faroqui - saying, "You may have killed that innocent Tabrez Ansari, but tomorrow if his son takes revenge, do not say that all Muslims are terrorists."

"As this 'hate-mongering' video can disturb the peace between two communities and lead to possibilities of communal tension, we have registered an offence against the TikTok account user which was used to post the video," a senior police official was quoted by news agency PTI.

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ANI

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Mumbai Police cyber cell has registered an FIR against a group of people allegedly circulating a video on TikTok, related to mob lynching of Tabrez Ansari in Jharkhand. Matter is being investigated. TikTok has removed the video and suspended the accounts of the group of people.

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In his complaint, Ramesh Solanki claimed the video shows how "the public at large may have killed Tabrez, but if tomorrow, his progeny exercises revenge then he mustn't be a called a 'Muslim Terrorist'".

Tabrez Ansari's family has alleged the police did not arrange for medical treatment, that they were not allowed to meet him, and that he died long before he was taken to a hospital. They have demanded action against all concerned, including the police and the doctors, who have yet to be questioned.

Eleven men have been arrested and two police officers suspended so far.

"The video in question, which has violated our Community Guidelines, is no longer available on TikTok. Such irresponsible acts will not be tolerated on our platform, hence we have suspended three user accounts and are cooperating with law enforcement agencies," the company said in a statement.