Chennai: Amnesty International India, a human rights group, has called upon the state government to immediately drop charges against all those arrested for allegedly “spreading rumours” on the social media about Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s health, and set them free.
“The Tamil Nadu government has a duty and responsibility to maintain law and order in the state. But arresting people for spreading rumours about an important issue — when the government itself has not been forthcoming about this information — is not the solution,” said Makepeace Sitlhou, Campaigner at Amnesty International India. Ensuring accurate and timely information about the Chief Minister’s health would “quell false rumours,” rather than resorting to attacks on free speech and arresting the citizens, the organisation stressed.
At least eight people have been arrested and cases registered against at least 50 for offences including ‘public mischief’ and ‘intent to cause riot.’ In a release, Amnesty claimed that many of the cases were registered after ruling party members complained. The CM has been in hospital since Sept. 22 and though the hospital authorities have said that her health is improving the state government has not come out with any official statement.
Police arrested 29-year-old Satish Kumar on October 13 following a complaint by the secretary of the IT wing of the ruling party. He was accused of posting ‘malicious’ posts about the Chief Minister’s health on Facebook. Police registered a case against him for circulating statements ‘likely to cause fear or alarm to the public,’ ‘promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes’ and ‘provocation with intent to cause riot.’ If convicted, Satish Kumar could be in prison for over seven years. Since then, seven others have been arrested in different parts of the state for allegedly “spreading mongering.”
