A couple of days ago, many news platforms including India Today published a story about how a 75-year-old ardent Modi-supporter who hung a Modi’s picture around his neck was assaulted by a DMK-Congress supporter and was killed in the duel. The story which was published by the news platforms was a syndicated report from the news agency PTI.
News published by various media platforms
Govindarajan, a 75-year-old man who apparently was a devoted supporter of PM Modi and the BJP was going around and seeking votes for Modi in Orathanadu taluk of Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu on April 13th. He was then approached by Gopinath, who is said to be a DMK-Congress supporter. They got into an altercation, which soon escalated into a duel, during which Govindarajan died on the spot.
The story created quite an outrage on social media and many questioned why there is a silence of media around the issue. This story was shared, and the act was condemned by various media platforms and public figures.
75 year old Govindraj killed for praising #Modi,incident took place near a Orthanadu village in Tanjore, #TamilNadu#Govindaraj was attacked by Gopinath a #DMK supporter, he immediately collapsed and died on the spot.#Intolerance anyone #JusticeForGovindraj
killed for views pic.twitter.com/2roS2qdgbC— Sachin Singh (@sachinsingh1010) April 14, 2019
75-year-old Modi fan dies after being beaten up by DMK-Congress supporter.
@ShashiTharoor your kind of India. That is what you want. https://t.co/DFtUrztr6A— Chowkidar Shashank Singh (@pokershash) April 14, 2019
The correct information as per the police
While the PTI story says the accused was a DMK-Congress Supporter, DSP of Orathanadu, Kamarajar denied the claims that Gopinath is a DMK-Congress supporter.
The police denied any political motive or political angle behind this incident. They claim that Govindarajan was mentally unstable and was talking loudly to himself. DSP told The Quint that the victim was known to pin photos of AIADMK leaders Jayalalithaa and MGR on his shirt. Recently, after the AIADMK-BJP alliance, he started pinning a photo of PM Modi. Gopinath thought Govindarajan is abusing him and this led to the altercation, which soon escalated into a duel, but Govindarajan did not die on the spot as per PTI report. He then went to the General Hospital with his daughter to get checked as he had minor injuries. He then walked back home and went to sleep, after which his family observed that he had passed away. The police have arrested Gopinath on suspicion of murder.
The Logical Indian Take
The story by the PTI didn’t have a source and it mentions talking to police but doesn’t mention his/her name. This story elicited criticism and despair over growing intolerance in the country. While the criticisms and despair are very much relevant in the current political scenario, an unconfirmed story only makes matters worse by spewing hatred amongst two parties/alliances. Considering the time we are in, the responsibility of the media to verify the information is much needed.
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