Taking suo motu cognisance of a viral video purportedly showing a content creator allegedly subjecting a youth from Tripura to racial abuse and humiliation,
NEW DELHI — Taking suo motu cognisance of a viral video purportedly showing a content creator allegedly subjecting a youth from Tripura to racial abuse and humiliation, Delhi Police has registered an FIR against the accused and launched an investigation into the matter.
"The content creator, identified as Amir Shokeen, is a bad character of Sadar Bazar area and has previously been involved in multiple cases of brawling," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Niharika Bhatt told PTI.
She said an FIR has been registered against Shokeen and multiple teams have been formed to arrest the accused.
Delhi Police's Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit is investigating the viral video.
The police's Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region (SPUNER) had earlier written to the IFSO unit, asking it to investigate the video, they said.
Police personnel have also visited the residence of the content creator, Amir Shokeen, but a senior police officer said he is absconding.
The development comes amid widespread condemnation of the viral video on social media, with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha calling for action against the accused.
Rijiju, in a post on X, said the accused would face action and Delhi and Tripura police would teach him a "hard lesson".
"This evil man will be punished. There was a delay in lodging the official complaint, but Delhi Police and Tripura Police will teach him a hard lesson," the minister said.
The Tripura Students Forum Delhi (TSFD), in a complaint dated October 21 addressed to the Joint Commissioner of Police, SPUNER, sought an urgent and impartial investigation into the video, alleging it showed a person from Tripura being subjected to sexual assault, harassment and humiliating treatment by a social media content creator.
The complaint identified the Instagram account @amirshoksen as allegedly linked to the incident and sought verification of the identity and role of the person operating it, along with that of others who may have participated in or recorded the alleged incident.
The forum also alleged that the video contained racially derogatory expressions directed at the individual and a demeaning reference to Tripura, which it said had caused anguish among members of the state's community.
Seeking appropriate legal action, the forum urged police to preserve electronic evidence, including the original recording, metadata, account details and upload history, and take measures to prevent further harassment or intimidation of the person concerned.
The complaint sought registration of an FIR wherever warranted by the facts and applicable legal provisions.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has directed the state's director general of police to coordinate with the Delhi Police over the matter, while leaders across party lines have condemned the alleged conduct and demanded action.