Muhammad Zubair: Who are the co-founders of ALT News and why are Indians trending on Twitter?

 

If you look at Indian Twitter, the hashtag #IStandwithZubair is currently at the forefront of trends. This hashtag is about Muhammad Zubair, co-founder of Alt News. Users are sharing comments and posts on Twitter with this hashtag. And so far more than 117,000 tweets have been made under this hashtag.

Pratik Sinha, the co-founder of ALT News, thanked the people for their support.

But the question is why this hashtag is trending and why consumers are talking about supporting Muhammad Zubair. According to the Indian Express, Delhi Police Cyber ​​Cell and Raipur Police have registered an FIR against Zubair under the IT and Poko Act. The FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by the National Commission for the Protection of the Rights of the Child. According to the FIR, Zubair is accused of allegedly threatening and torturing a minor girl. The FIR mentions Zubair's Twitter handle and two other Twitter handles. The Indian Express has confirmed the FIR, citing Delhi Cyber ​​Crime DCP Animesh Rai and Raipur SP Ajay Yadav.

The complaint filed by NCPCR mentions a tweet from Zubair's account on August 6.

The tweet contained a picture of a minor girl, which Zubair allegedly shared after an online discussion with the girl's grandfather. In this tweet, Zubair wrote, "Hello Jagdish, does your beloved granddaughter know about your part-time job that you abuse people on social media." I suggest you change this profile photo. 'Action has been taken against Zubair for this tweet.

Media reports quoted NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanonogo as saying that the NCPR launched an investigation into the matter on August 8, asking Twitter to provide more information and respond. After being satisfied, a complaint was lodged with the police, and appropriate action was demanded. This FIR has been registered as a result of this demand. Zubair and Alt News have denied all the allegations.

When the BBC spoke to Pratik Sinha, co-founder of ALT News, he said that Zubair did not even get a chance to present his position on behalf of the NCPCR. The NCPCR complained without listening to him. According to Pratik, they will now proceed legally in this matter as well. Pratik Sinha, a co-founder of Alt News, wrote in his tweet, “An attempt is being made to harass Zubair through misuse of legal means. But Alt News stands with Muhammad Zubair. ”Thousands of tweets have been made in support of Muhammad Zubair.

Attempts were being made to target Zubair for some time. These false accusations are another attempt to silence them. Journalist Debashi Rai Chaudhry has written that Muhammad Zubair is one of the best journalists in India. The official Twitter handle of Poonawala Tehsil also tweeted in support of Muhammad Zubair and asked him to remain steadfast.

Editor Sawira Bhaskar and journalist Supriya Sharma also tweeted in support of Zubair.

"Zubair is at the forefront of the fight against fake news and his work hurts people who spread misconceptions to distort democracy in India," he wrote. He will not dare to speak the truth, because everyone knows that liars are trying to silence him by implicating him in fake cases, ”writes Ashok Swain, a professor of peace and conflict research at Uppsala University in Sweden. Toa gangs are doing what they have always been doing! On the other hand, tagging various handles of Delhi Police, Jagdish tweeted, "They are harassing me and threatening me because I have filed a case against Muhammad Zubair." Is. If anything happens to me or my family, they will be responsible. ”Muhammad Zubair is the co-founder of Alt News. Zubair had earlier been associated with the telecom industry. He has worked in the telecom industry for almost 13 years. "Independent and genuine journalism requires that it be free from corporate and political control," according to the ALT News website. This is possible only when people come forward and cooperate.

Alt News has been operating since February 2017 and the website is being run entirely on a voluntary basis.