TikTok Influencers Charged With ‘Inciting Hate’ Over Tabrez Death

Mumbai Police registered a case against the Tik Tok influencers.

The TikTok video could have lead to communal tensions between the communities, the police said.

(Photo: iStock)

An alleged "hate-mongering" video on Jharkhand mob lynching victim, Tabrez Ansari, surfaced on social media on Monday, 8 July, prompting Mumbai Police to register a case against the Tik Tok 'influencers,’ an official said.

Meanwhile, in response to the allegations that those featured in the video are working in albums of Zee Music Company, the latter has removed the video of the 'influencers' from all the platforms.

The three user accounts belonged to Hasnain Khan, Faisal Shaikh and Sadhan Faroqui.

The short video, released through media application TikTok, shows five youths saying, “You may have killed that innocent Tabrez Ansari, but tomorrow if his son takes revenge, do not say that all Muslims are terrorists.”

‘Could Lead to Communal Tension,’ Says Police

A senior police official said, “As this hate-mongering video can disturb peace between two communities and lead to possibilities of a communal tension, we have registered an offence against the TikTok account user which was used to post the video.”

A case has been registered at cyber police station under sections 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc). and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against unidentified persons.

“I have been informed by TikTok that the video was removed from the platform and the 3 accounts were suspended after my complaint. Suspension in TikTok means that they cannot log in into their accounts and can’t post anything there.”

Ramesh Solanki, complainant

An investigation is underway to trace the person who released the video and those who featured in it.

The video went viral on social media from Tik Tok user account @hasnaink07 and it purportedly showed that popular Tik Tok influencer Hasnain Khan asking revenge for Ansari's death.

The user of the handle says that those seen in the video are working in albums of Zee Music Company.

‘Not Zee Music Artists’

However, Zee Music Company dismissed claims of the people in the video belonging to their company, and removed all of their videos from their platforms.

Such Irresponsible Acts Will Not Be Tolerated: TikTok

Meanwhile, TikTok has released their official statement.

“TikTok has zero tolerance for content that incites violence against other users or any content that violates its Community Guidelines. In line with this, 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.”

TikTok

The official said the investigation is underway.

Ansari was brutally assaulted by a mob on suspicion of theft and was forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram" and "Jai Hanuman.” He died shortly after in judicial custody.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)