‘Talibanisation of society': After Punjab influencer Kamal Kaur Bhabi's killing, cops go hard on vigilantes; debate rages on what defines vulgarity
Chandigarh: The top brass of Punjab Police has asked the force's officers to deal with acts of moral policing with an iron hand, as a storm rages in the state over social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari aka 'Kamal Kaur Bhabi' being murdered by a self-styled Nihang Sikh, Amritpal Singh Mehron, and his two associates who found her content to be obscene.
Acting on these directions, police have arrested a Patiala man for allegedly threatening an Amritsar-based influencer, Deepika Luthra, who has also been provided security along with a second content creator. A police officer said Luthra had received numerous threats and police were investigating each. "People appear to be making threats to make some splash due to the attention the incident [Tiwari murder] has received," said the officer.
Punjab special director general of police (law and order) Arpit Shukla advised such self-styled vigilantes to approach the police if they found anything "objectionable". "We have instructed officers to take strict action against those who are issuing threats. As far as vulgarity is concerned, who are they (self-styled Nihang Sikhs who killed Kanchan) to decide... It is a broad subject, and the definition of vulgarity is different at different places.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah?
IC Markets
Mendaftar
Undo
For instance, in the Islamic world, the definition of vulgarity would be different than other places," Shukla said.
While Mehron fled to the UAE just seven hours after committing the crime at 2.30am on June 10, Bathinda police – the district where Kanchan's body was found on June 11 – have arrested his two associates and issued look-out circulars against Mehron and another accused, Ranjit Singh. Police have also obtained an open-dated arrest warrant and is set to initiate proceedings for Mehron's deportation.
Divided opinions
There is a split in society when it comes to the Taliban-style murder of Tiwari, with the biggest defence for Mehron and his associates coming from Giani Malkit Singh, the head granthi of Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. He said Sikh gurus' teachings asked people to keep away from vulgar songs and obscenity. "If someone from another religion changes their name and indulges in such acts to defame the Sikh community, the person should meet the same fate [as Kamal Tiwari].
Nothing wrong has happened," Giani Malkit said.
However, many don't agree with his justification. "This is Talibanisation of society and the outcome of a radical mindset. After this, will they also now object to films for which there is a censor board? When some respectable voices speak in favour of such acts, police's task becomes more challenging," said a police officer, who did not wish to be named.
Singer Mika Singh put out a video to condemn the act.
"Warriors do not attack unarmed women and children," he said. He added the three Nihang Sikhs could have filed a police complaint or counselled the woman. "Why are you killing someone who is dancing and wearing short clothes. There are many other atrocities being committed [in the country], do something for that," Mika said.
He also requested chief minister Bhagwant Mann to "rein in such elements".
Akali Dal Waris Punjab De legal adviser Imaan Singh Khara, in a video, blamed AAP govt in Punjab for "increasing vulgarity" on social media platforms and for "not acting to check that".
Imaan is the son of senior advocate Harpal Singh Khara, counsel for the two associates of Mehron who have been arrested for Kanchan Tiwari's murder. He put out a video on Monday and said the CM Bhagwant Mann-led govt failed to check vulgarity.
Citing the Information Technology (IT) Act, Imaan said, "It is a legal offence to spread vulgarity online and in electronic form and govt had powers to ban that. But, like it failed to act against drugs, it failed to ban such social media accounts.
AAP govt has been banning those accounts which bat for farmers and Punjab's rights, but has failed to ban the vulgar accounts, be it of men or women. Had it acted earlier, the present circumstances could have been avoided."
However, Nihang order Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh reminded the accused of what Khalsa stood for. Responding to a question by the media in a video, the Budha Dal chief pointed out that mobile phones had their pros and cons and there was a need to avoid their misuse.
"But one should keep in mind that Khalsa never attacks an unarmed person," he said.
'You get what you watch'
Social media influencers argue that the content they put out is driven by viewers who watch such content. A Punjab Police officer too said it was the discretion of viewers. "It all depends on surfing patterns and the content one watches. The viewer has the option to like or dislike a post. Accordingly, there is a pattern of algorithm of the content that appears on one's social media accounts," said the officer.
The cyber-crime division of Punjab Police has two wings to monitor and regulate [content] if there is anything incriminating or objectionable. It has a social media analysis centre (SMAC) and a round-the-clock cyber-patrolling unit (CPU), an official said. "If CPU comes across any objectionable or instigating post, like seditious one or the one having the potential to disturb communal harmony, it is flagged to SMAC for blocking.
After a three-tier filtering process, the posts or social media handles are identified and a request is sent to the platform concerned to remove those," said the official.
The official cited situations where there are borderline posts. "Social media platforms analyse requests on various parameters, including community guidelines and take action accordingly. In case of seditious posts, all requests are accepted.
Comparatively, not all posts which are flagged as politically defamatory are removed by the platform concerned. As far as posts with 'vulgar' content are concerned, the definition is wide.
Something which may be seen as unlawful here, might not be unlawful in the country from where the social media platform is operating. Something which may be considered obscene here, might not be considered obscene for them," said another official.
In May, the cyber-crime division of Punjab police got 555 posts and socials media accounts removed/blocked, which included those identified by the CPU and the complaints it received. These included 222 posts on Facebook, 152 on Instagram, 162 on YouTube and 19 on X.
Chandigarh: The top brass of Punjab Police has asked the force's officers to deal with acts of moral policing with an iron hand, as a storm rages in the state over social media influencer Kanchan Tiwari aka 'Kamal Kaur Bhabi' being murdered by a self-styled Nihang Sikh, Amritpal Singh Mehron, and his two associates who found her content to be obscene.
Acting on these directions, police have arrested a Patiala man for allegedly threatening an Amritsar-based influencer, Deepika Luthra, who has also been provided security along with a second content creator. A police officer said Luthra had received numerous threats and police were investigating each. "People appear to be making threats to make some splash due to the attention the incident [Tiwari murder] has received," said the officer.
Punjab special director general of police (law and order) Arpit Shukla advised such self-styled vigilantes to approach the police if they found anything "objectionable". "We have instructed officers to take strict action against those who are issuing threats. As far as vulgarity is concerned, who are they (self-styled Nihang Sikhs who killed Kanchan) to decide... It is a broad subject, and the definition of vulgarity is different at different places.
For instance, in the Islamic world, the definition of vulgarity would be different than other places," Shukla said.
While Mehron fled to the UAE just seven hours after committing the crime at 2.30am on June 10, Bathinda police – the district where Kanchan's body was found on June 11 – have arrested his two associates and issued look-out circulars against Mehron and another accused, Ranjit Singh. Police have also obtained an open-dated arrest warrant and is set to initiate proceedings for Mehron's deportation.
Divided opinions
There is a split in society when it comes to the Taliban-style murder of Tiwari, with the biggest defence for Mehron and his associates coming from Giani Malkit Singh, the head granthi of Akal Takht, which is the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. He said Sikh gurus' teachings asked people to keep away from vulgar songs and obscenity. "If someone from another religion changes their name and indulges in such acts to defame the Sikh community, the person should meet the same fate [as Kamal Tiwari].
Nothing wrong has happened," Giani Malkit said.
However, many don't agree with his justification. "This is Talibanisation of society and the outcome of a radical mindset. After this, will they also now object to films for which there is a censor board? When some respectable voices speak in favour of such acts, police's task becomes more challenging," said a police officer, who did not wish to be named.
Singer Mika Singh put out a video to condemn the act.
"Warriors do not attack unarmed women and children," he said. He added the three Nihang Sikhs could have filed a police complaint or counselled the woman. "Why are you killing someone who is dancing and wearing short clothes. There are many other atrocities being committed [in the country], do something for that," Mika said.
He also requested chief minister Bhagwant Mann to "rein in such elements".
Akali Dal Waris Punjab De legal adviser Imaan Singh Khara, in a video, blamed AAP govt in Punjab for "increasing vulgarity" on social media platforms and for "not acting to check that".
Imaan is the son of senior advocate Harpal Singh Khara, counsel for the two associates of Mehron who have been arrested for Kanchan Tiwari's murder. He put out a video on Monday and said the CM Bhagwant Mann-led govt failed to check vulgarity.
Citing the Information Technology (IT) Act, Imaan said, "It is a legal offence to spread vulgarity online and in electronic form and govt had powers to ban that. But, like it failed to act against drugs, it failed to ban such social media accounts.
AAP govt has been banning those accounts which bat for farmers and Punjab's rights, but has failed to ban the vulgar accounts, be it of men or women. Had it acted earlier, the present circumstances could have been avoided."
However, Nihang order Budha Dal chief Baba Balbir Singh reminded the accused of what Khalsa stood for. Responding to a question by the media in a video, the Budha Dal chief pointed out that mobile phones had their pros and cons and there was a need to avoid their misuse.
"But one should keep in mind that Khalsa never attacks an unarmed person," he said.
'You get what you watch'
Social media influencers argue that the content they put out is driven by viewers who watch such content. A Punjab Police officer too said it was the discretion of viewers. "It all depends on surfing patterns and the content one watches. The viewer has the option to like or dislike a post. Accordingly, there is a pattern of algorithm of the content that appears on one's social media accounts," said the officer.
The cyber-crime division of Punjab Police has two wings to monitor and regulate [content] if there is anything incriminating or objectionable. It has a social media analysis centre (SMAC) and a round-the-clock cyber-patrolling unit (CPU), an official said. "If CPU comes across any objectionable or instigating post, like seditious one or the one having the potential to disturb communal harmony, it is flagged to SMAC for blocking.
After a three-tier filtering process, the posts or social media handles are identified and a request is sent to the platform concerned to remove those," said the official.
The official cited situations where there are borderline posts. "Social media platforms analyse requests on various parameters, including community guidelines and take action accordingly. In case of seditious posts, all requests are accepted.
Comparatively, not all posts which are flagged as politically defamatory are removed by the platform concerned. As far as posts with 'vulgar' content are concerned, the definition is wide.
Something which may be seen as unlawful here, might not be unlawful in the country from where the social media platform is operating. Something which may be considered obscene here, might not be considered obscene for them," said another official.
In May, the cyber-crime division of Punjab police got 555 posts and socials media accounts removed/blocked, which included those identified by the CPU and the complaints it received. These included 222 posts on Facebook, 152 on Instagram, 162 on YouTube and 19 on X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Beed man arrested for snatching gold chains
Pune: The Dighi police arrested Siddharth Jadhav (24) of Shirur in Beed district for snatching gold chains from women and men, all warkaris, during the palkhi procession of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj around 9am on Friday on Pune-Alandi Road. The Dighi police recovered 10 gold chains worth Rs9 lakh from his possession. Police said that a 60-year-old warkari from Panvel raised an alarm after Jadhav snatched his gold chain. Police personnel on bandobast duty as well as people apprehended Jadhav on the spot. "After apprehending Jadhav, we found 10 gold chains with him. We took him to the police station and waited for complaints from the people. Within a few minutes, eight women and a man walked into the police station with their complaints stating that someone snatched their gold chains taking advantage of the crowded situation. Our team showed them the recovery, and all of them identified their jewellery," an officer from Dighi police said. "Jadhav came to Pune from Beed to snatch chains from the warkaris during the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur. We suspect that he might have snatched more chains. We are questioning him on this," the officer said. Last year, the Pune city crime branch arrested a woman, who attempted to steal valuables of warkaris using her baby boy as a distraction in Nana Peth, where the palkhis of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj took a halt. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo The woman, according to crime branch officers, was using her child as a distraction and attempting to steal gold chains and other valuables from warkaris. The police nabbed her after receiving a tip-off and took her in for questioning her thereafter.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Patil writes to CM on mining scams, BJP questions timing
Bengaluru/Raichur: Law minister HK Patil has written a detailed letter to chief minister Siddaramaiah expressing deep concern over the govt's failure to act on thousands of illegal mining cases that allegedly led to a loss of Rs 1.5 lakh crore between 2007 and 2011. In a seven-page letter dated June 18, Patil criticised the "administrative apathy" in handling these cases and called for stern action against the culprits and recovery of lost public wealth. He reminded Siddaramaiah of the 320-km foot march to Ballari in 2010 against illegal mining when the Congress was in opposition. Patil, who headed the cabinet sub-committee on illegal mining during Siddaramaiah's previous term (2013–18), noted in the letter that only 7.6% of more than 12,000 registered illegal mining cases have been investigated so far. "In just 2 per cent of these seven per cent, which means in only 0.2 per cent of the total number of cases, verdicts have come and cases have seen a conclusion," he further added. In Raichur, Patil on Saturday said, "I have brought it to the notice of the CM about what has to be done. The letter is written in the interest of the state and its people. The chief minister has seen the letter and has taken the matter seriously." He also warned that documents related to these illegalities should not be destroyed and called for vigilance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Suggesting fresh measures, he proposed appointing a recovery commissioner under the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance, 1946, creation of a new SIT, and a special court for speedy trial. BJP MP Lahar Singh Siroya questioned the timing. "I am happy that law minister wrote a seven-page letter to CM, reminding him of the commitment he had made to recover the iron ore scam money... I wonder why Patil took so long to remind his CM on the unrecovered funds. Timing is everything in politics."
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru's auto drivers fined for fleecing, other violations
Bengaluru: Close on the heels of the ban on bike-taxi services, Bengalureans complained about rising incidents of "autocracy" with several incidents of autorickshaw drivers fleecing the commuters with faulty meters. Cracking the whip on such errant drivers, Bengaluru Traffic Police booked over 1,000 cases Saturday and collected Rs 4.9 lakh in fine from autorickshaws and other traffic violators in the west division. Based on the commuters' ordeal, TOI published a report on traffic violations in its June 20 edition. During the day-long drive against errant autorickshaw drivers in and around Majestic, Ananda Rao Circle, KSR Railway Station, MG Road, Church Street, Cubbon Park and surrounding areas, 180 cases were booked under various sections of the Indian Motor Vehicles (IMV) Act and fine worth Rs 89,700 was collected. The highest number of cases (84) was booked against auto drivers not wearing the khaki uniform, resulting in a fine of Rs 42,000. Similarly, 52 cases were booked against those demanding excess fare and Rs 21,600 was collected in fine. As many as 44 auto drivers were booked for refusing to go for hire and a fine worth Rs 21,600 was collected, according to BTP officials. Anitha B Haddannavar, deputy commissioner of police (traffic) West told STOI that there were several complaints against autorickshaw drivers, particularly about demanding excess fares and refusing to go for hire. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Transform Your Home with Expert Home Improvement Services. Home Fix Daily Learn More Undo "Since the ban on bike taxis, there has been a rapid surge in the demand for autorickshaws in Bengaluru. But a few auto drivers are taking advantage of this situation. Hence, we cracked down on them during the special drive in areas where there is large footfall of passengers," she explained. Apart from this, the BTP officials have also booked 216 cases of violation of parking rules and collected Rs 87,500 in fine from the offenders. Traffic cops in plainclothes hired autorickshaws to various destinations of the city from the Majestic area and the drivers were caught demanding money above the meter charge. "An auto ride between Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Metro Station in Majestic and Freedom Park would normally cost Rs 50. But Saturday, auto drivers charged Rs 75-100. Similarly, the RTO officials must also verify the authenticity of the meters in all autorickshaws," explained a senior traffic police inspector.
