Kerala TV News Anchor Booked on Charge of Inciting Communal Enmity

Malayalam news anchor Venu Balakrishnan.

(Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

The Kerala police registered a case of 'inciting communal hatred' against a leading Malayalam news anchor, after he raked up Muslim sentiments on a primetime debate.

In a debate discussing police atrocities, aired on 7 June, Mathrubhumi TV anchor Venu Balaksrishnan brought up the alleged torture of Eddathal Usman, who was reportedly involved in disrupting public property in Kochi in 2005.

According to an Indian Express report, CM Pinarayi Vijayan had said that Usman had assaulted the police and burnt a Tamil Nadu bus in protest of Abdul Nazir Madhani's arrest in 2005. Madhani, the chairman of the state's Peoples Democratic Party, was then an accused in the Coimbatore blast.

The daily quoted Balaskrishnan as saying:

Muslim brethren, you are observing the Ramadan fast even without swallowing saliva. The Chief Minister has disgraced you with such a stain. It is a state where a person, who has gone to breakfast, was served with jail.

The police reportedly filed an FIR on the opinion of the Director-General of Prosecutions. Speaking to IE, Kollam city police commissioner said:

"When we get a complaint, we have no option but to file an FIR. We know this is a sensitive issue as there are chances to construe the case as against freedom of press. Hence, we sought the legal opinion from the state prosecution chief, who has reported the alleged comments invoke IPC sections for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion."