Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair has been booked for allegedly disclosing the identity of a seven-year-old Muslim boy who was slapped by his classmates on the order of their teacher in a school in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
On the basis of a complaint by one Vishnudutt, Zubair was booked by the Muzaffarnagar police under Section 74 of the Juvenile Justice Act on Monday.
Priyank Kanoongo, the chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, had earlier tweeted that instructions are being issued for action over videos revealing the identity of the child.
“Taking cognisance, instructions are being issued for action, everyone is requested not to share the video of the child, give information about such incidents by e-mail, do not become a part of the crime by revealing the identity of the children,” Kanoongo said on Friday last week.
Zubair had then deleted the video. “Deleted the video because NCPCR wanted people to delete the video,” he said.
Speaking to Scroll, Zubair said that he had removed the video but was being targeted. “I am the only one named in the FIR even though many others including media outlets posted the video…In fact there are other videos revealing the identity of the kid including the video of him hugging his classmates.”
Meanwhile, the private school in Khubbapur village where the incident took place has been sealed, according to the Indian Express. The teacher, Tripta Tyagi, is facing a non-cognisable report with IPC sections 323 (causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace). She has not been arrested.
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