Himachal police register FIR in ‘jungli murga’ episode; BJP MLA, Punjab Kesari, Tribune, 3 journalists named

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SHIMLA/ MANDI (Munish Sood)

The Himachal Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against six individuals, including BJP MLA from Dharamshala Sudhir Sharma, media outlets Punjab Kesari and The Tribune, and three other journalists in the recent ‘jungli murga’ (wildfowl) episode for allegedly spreading false information and defaming the Hatti community of Kupvi during Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s visit to Tikkar village in Chopal on December 13.
The FIR, registered at Kupvi police station, accuses the individuals of tarnishing the region’s cultural image through fabricated social media posts and reports.
The case has been filed under Sections 353(2) and 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, following a written complaint by Suman Chauhan, the pradhan of Kulag gram panchayat, and Neetu Kumar, a local resident.

Accusations of tarnishing region’s cultural image

According to the FIR, the Chief Minister visited Tikkar village on December 13, where he was warmly welcomed by the locals with traditional songs and cuisine. Women from the village prepared regional dishes as part of their cultural hospitality. However, media reports and social media posts shared a fabricated menu that falsely claimed the inclusion of illegal wildlife dishes.
The complainants alleged that the baseless accusations severely damaged the reputation of their community, which values wildlife as sacred and integral to their cultural heritage.

FIR specifically names the following individuals and organisations:

  1. Sudhir Sharma, BJP MLA from Dharamshala, accused of sharing misleading social media posts.
  2. Punjab Kesari, a widely circulated Hindi newspaper.
  3. The Tribune, a reputed English daily of the North region
  4. Bol Himachal, an online news portal.
  5. Munnu Thakur, a journalist accused of contributing to the false narrative.
  6. Dr Sanjeev Sharma, another journalist implicated in spreading misinformation.

Sections invoked

The FIR has been filed under:

  1. Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Pertaining to obstruction caused by the dissemination of false information.
  2. Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023: Addressing acts of defamation and intentional harm to community sentiments.

What the FIR says
The complaint highlights that:
• The allegations made in the media were baseless as the wildlife species mentioned in the reports are not found in the region.
• The fabricated news hurt the sentiments of the Hati community, whose cultural identity is closely tied to their traditional practices.
• The misinformation campaign caused outrage among the villagers and defamed their hospitality.
The complainants have demanded strict legal action against those responsible for spreading false propaganda, which they claim has brought disrespect to the entire region.

Chief Minister’s visit and fallout
During his visit, the Chief Minister interacted with villagers, addressing concerns about health and education facilities in the area. He also visited the residence of a local resident, Hari Singh, where he was welcomed with traditional rituals.
The Chief Minister’s visit, intended to strengthen ties with the local community, has been overshadowed by the controversy. The Hati community, known for its cultural pride, expressed anger over the media reports.
“The reports are not just false but also an attack on our cultural values and traditions,” said Pradhan Suman Chauhan.

Community’s demand for accountability

The Hatti community of Chehta Paragana has demanded swift legal action against the accused, asserting that such incidents of misinformation harm both their culture and the credibility of the media. As investigations proceed, the case raises important questions about the responsibility of public figures and journalists in ensuring accurate reporting and respecting local traditions.

MUNISH SOOD

MUNISH SOOD

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