Whats App & Social Media messages turn killers; Surgical measures needed to bridle fast spreading menace

By Neeraj Bajpai

Once Ace politician and Former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh was sitting in a thatched Chaupal in agrarian Baghpat area in Western Uttar Pradesh when a middle aged villager trooped in with bleeding head injury. He was seeking justice from the prominent Jat leader as local urchins who had belabored him belonged to his community.

Apparently upset over the incident, undisputed icon of his community Charan Singh,in his characteristic style ,stoked his hair and adjusted his sparkling white Gandhi topi and ordered immediate first aid for the injured from fellow villagers. He directed the motely crowd of attendants to summon attackers for immediate punishment.

Everything was done with lightning speed, but when the injured man, a local teacher, was about to leave .Hiding his seething anger, Charan Singh , in polite tone, asked him to sit down .He told him point blank that his wounds would  heal soon, but posed a poser him whether he had ever realized that his misguided sermons throughout the day to gullible villagers were leaving indelible scars on their minds. The polluted minds, he said, were inflicting more grievous injuries to the society.

The Injured who was known for spreading unfounded reports, used to go take stroll in the village throughout the day spreading cooked up political stories stealthily on behalf of   Charan Singh’s rivals.

Now, more than thirty years down the line, the role of such campaigners has been usurped by none other than social media arms. Baghpat was spread  over 1.327 Square kms and word of mouth was making tricks. But now, in the Digital age, the whole Earth, spread over an area of 510.1 Million square kms ,messages go viral in split of seconds .It is boon and bane both ways.

Nine youths were lynched to death in  Kolhan region tribal belts of the backward Jharkhand state during last seven days. Youths were lynched after repeated whats App messages that tribal kids were being lifted by  kidnappers who  are armed with sedatives and lethal weapons. the messages also warned them to identify suspected elements to teach them lesson. On suspicions, Tribals  brutally lynched seven youth on last Thursday. On May 12, two people were lynched on suspicion of being child lifters.in Jadugora.   

Scourge continues to blight innocents amid what’s app rumours . Tribals have junked schools and outdoor visits after violent incidents in Jamshedpur, once famous for industrialist Tatas’ hub of activities for progressive and vibrant nation.

Nation watched mayhem reports after such messages played havoc with lives of innocents non tribals. Rumours were being circulated for almost a month about kids’ kidnappings and  their follow up brutal murders.

People had stopped sending children to schools after rumours on what’s app spread like wild fire. Pitched battles were seen when protests were staged by aggrieved families who had lost their kith and kins in the streets in full public view.

Allegations are flying thick and fast that the administration did nothing to squelch such false reports of kidnappings. Tribals accuse them of glossing over their plaints despite fast spreading fear psychosis. With price of smartphones falling, pre-paid net packages getting cheaper, messages on social media, go viral instantly and hand sets are seen even in the remotest corners. Rumours are spread so fast and these youth believe those without an iota of suspicion. Fired by such reports, they swing into action and resort to violence.

Jharkhand incident may sound as an isolated incident but social media campaigns are resulting into havoc. Such rumours are spewing fire in the troubled Kashmir valley where stone pelters circulate unfounded reports to solicit support against armed forces.

It was only in 2012, such social messages on social media that North East residents would be force to leave Bengaluru ,A large number of people had rushed to station to catch Guwahati Express train or any other transport.     

Incidents are happening at regular intervals and time has come to work out a strategy for sensible use of social Media arms with laid out etiquettes.

Those who feel that such social media is reaping them dividends,  curse it later on when their rivals take up cudgels to counter misinformation campaign.

Fake news or post truth reports gain currency instantly ,  but ultimately common man suffers in form of loss of lives and property. In war of nerves, gullible users become victims at hands of such cabals of conspirators.

The social media is turning into Frankenstein if nothing is done to deal with the menace ,it would be too late .

Those in power can initiate police action against administrators of what’s up or social media messages but what next if they lose power and sit at other side of fence. It needs a broader solution by way of discussions among social activists, intellectuals, bureaucrats, technocrats and law makers. A holistic solution was required for India where major portion of teeming  population is still illiterate and easily get carried away.