After Hindutva worker Santhosh was attacked by one of his neighbours over a land dispute, several right-wing influencers, including journalists, shared fake narratives.
Police rule out the claim that attack on Santosh was over distributing Ram Akshata in the locality. (X/@HateDetectors)
A recent clash involving a Hindu outfit activist in Puttur taluka of the Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka was given a communal spin and shared with fake narratives, the police have said.
According to the police, a seemingly straightforward altercation between neighbours took a complex turn, and was given a communal spin due to conflicting narratives and social media sensationalism ahead of the Ram Temple consecration on Monday, 22 January.
Santhosh, an activist of a Hindu outfit, was allegedly attacked on 16 January by neighbours said to be associated with the Puttila Parivar — another right-wing Hindutva organisation.
He was returning from a meeting on the distribution of akshata (holy grains) in preparation for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony.
Santhosh had claimed that he was attacked over distributing akshata. However, the local police have now said the clash was over a land dispute and that it was not a religiously motivated assault.
The police revealed that both parties filed counter-complaints related to a longstanding land dispute, with no direct connection to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony or the distribution of akshata in the locality.
As the incident gained traction on social media, certain accounts and handles highlighted what turned out to be a fake narrative of this incident, only to be met with scepticism from the Dakshina Kannada Police, who dismissed that version of events as “fake news”.
The assailant, identified as Dhananjay, and his associate Keshava attacked him for distributing akshata, alleged Santhosh at a hospital on 17 January.
“They had vehemently opposed my efforts in distributing holy grains in the locality,” he added.
However, the police dismissed the claim. They said the 16 January attack was carried out by a group associated with the Puttila Parivar over a land dispute.
As the incident garnered attention, it took a new turn with conflicting narratives starting to emerge on social media platforms, misleading people, said the cops.
Certain right-wing influencers and journalists, who took to social media to highlight the incident, were met with scepticism from Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) CB Ryshyanth. He termed it “fake news”.
Two cases on the land dispute have been registered at Puttur Rural Police Station on 16 January regarding the incident.
According to the Puttur Rural Police: “The incident involving Santosh, who was returning from a meeting on the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir, was reported on 16 January. Santosh was reportedly assaulted by Dhananjay and his associates, leading to injuries sustained by both Santosh and his mother.”
In clarification, the police stated, “Concerning the incident, both the parties have filed counter complaints over a land dispute issue, not about the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony or its related events. The victim and accused live in the same locality.”
“Both the families had a dispute over a piece of land in the same locality and also against the path connecting to it for the past few years,” the police said highlighting the longstanding dispute between the families.
“Over this issue, both the families were not on good terms. In the altercation, a total of four people were injured. Eight people have been named as accused in this incident. All are associated with one or the other political outfits. No arrests have been made in both the cases as the accused have got the bail,” added police.
Ryshyanth termed the incident as “fake news” and told South First: “The altercation was not religiously motivated but rather stemmed from a dispute over land between two groups in the locality. In the investigation, we ascertained that the motive was personal.”
“The victim is playing the Hindutva sympathy card to get more attention from the police over his land dispute incident. The probe is underway. People should not fall prey to the fake news,” the Dakshina Kannada SP said and clarified it as fake news.
According to Santhosh, the assault occurred when he was making his way back home after participating in a meeting focused on the door-to-door distribution of akshata in Mundur village.
Santhosh’s mother was also injured in the attack after she intervened to halt the assault. Both Santhosh and his mother are currently undergoing medical treatment at a private hospital in Puttur.
Recounting the encounter, Santosh told reporters: “As I was heading home after concluding the meeting on akshata, Puttila Parivar members attacked me near my farm, grabbing my neck and issuing threats. It was at that moment my mother stepped in to rescue me.”
He added: “Ever since I took on the responsibility of distributing akshata, they have harboured animosity towards me. Consequently, I became their target. Despite diligently carrying out the distribution for the past two weeks, they vehemently oppose it.”
He accused Dhananjay, Keshava, and a third person — Jagadisha — of assaulting him during the altercation.
Ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, right-wing activists and a journalist from a reputed news outlet reportedly tried to peddle fake news on social media regarding the incident.
Pradeep Acharya, a member of the Hindu Janajagruti Vedike, posted on X: “Attack on Hindu devotees distributing Akshata in Puttur! In a country of crores of Rambhakta Hindus, the only solution is to have an influential Hindu organisation against those who attack them. [sic]”
Attack on Hindu devotees distributing Akshata in Puttur❗
✊ In a country of crores of Rambhakta Hindus the only solution is to have an influential Hindu organization against those who attack them. “जय श्री राम”#AyodhaRamMandir#RamMandirPranPratishta pic.twitter.com/P0fDYRJVkE
— 🇮🇳 Prabhakar Acharya 🇮🇳 🚩 (@Prabhak41657341) January 18, 2024
Rahul Shivshankar, the consulting editor of Network 18, according to his bio on X, posted a similar narrative about the incident.
In his post on X, Rahul said: “A Hindu activist who was distributing Ram Mandir ‘Akshata’ attacked in Karnataka’s Puttur. Santosh was attacked last night. He had finished distributing the Akshata and was returning home. [sic]”
A Hindu activist who was distributing Ram Mandir ‘Akshata’ attacked in Karnataka’s Puttur.
Santosh was attacked last night. He had finished distributing the Akshat and was returning home.
Is Hindumesia getting a wide berth because the will to curb it has softened in the face…
— Rahul Shivshankar (@RShivshankar) January 16, 2024
He added: “Is Hindumesia getting a wide berth because the will to curb it has softened in the face of expedient appeasement politics?”
However, the senior journalist-cum-author provided neither any relevant report nor statements from the investigating officers to support his claims.
The post has had around 4.5 lakh engagements on X since it was put up on 16 January.
Fact-checker and Alt News cofounder Mohammed Zubair immediately called out the post.
Hello @RShivshankar, What do you mean by ‘Hindumesia’? Stop fear mongering.
Both the parties involved in the tussle belonged to Hindutva organisations and neither of them wanted to stop the distribution of the Akshata as a result of ‘Hindumesia’. In reality, the two families…— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) January 20, 2024
“In reality, the two families involved in the incident have been at loggerheads for years over a civil dispute, and according to Santhosh’s testimony at the press conference, there was an altercation over who would distribute the Akshata. Also SP Ryshanth stated that the fight between the neighbours had, in fact, resulted out of a civil dispute [sic],” Zubair said in a reply to the post on X, also asking what “Hindumesia” was.
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