Thiruvananthapuram: A teenager is believed to be one of the brains behind a hoax strike call on Monday in Kerala that led to widespread violence, destruction of public property and disruption of normal life, particularly in the northern districts of the state.
Police have already arrested hundreds of people who acted in response to the call made on social media.
The social media message urged the public to take to the streets and protest the recent gang-rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir state.
Police on Saturday detained the 19-year-old youth from Thenmala. He is reportedly a former activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and currently associated with the Shiv Sena.
Police believe the teen was the mastermind behind two WhatsApp groups named ‘Voice of Truth’ and ‘Voice of Sisters’, and have highlighted to the public the dangers of spreading fake news on social media. They also warned WhatsApp administrators and those forwarding socially sensitive messages that they face the risk of prosecution.
Local media reported that police had also identified a 16-year-old who is believed to have spread socially explosive messages that urged people to protest.
Monday’s state-wide strike, apparently to highlight the Kathua gang-rape and murder, was unusual in the history of protests in Kerala as it was the first major strike not announced by any political party.
The Indian Union Muslim League has demanded a probe into the strike, stating that it appeared to have been called with the intention of diverting attention from the Kathua rape and murder case.
