Guntur, Sep 19: The arrest of three people, including a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) worker, in connection with an incident in Guntur district where a woman was allegedly assaulted and stripped has triggered a controversy after The News Minute Editor-in-Chief Dhanya Rajendran shared a post about the incident on social media.
Rajendran questioned the Andhra Pradesh Police after allegations emerged that the police had approached X (formerly Twitter) using the name of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to seek the removal of her post.
The alleged action by the police has sparked a wider debate over press freedom, the reporting of crimes against women and the manner in which authorities respond to social media posts by journalists.
Women’s Commission Chairperson Responds
Andhra Pradesh State Women’s Commission Chairperson Dr. Rayapati Shailaja responded to the controversy, stating that the victim of the Guntur incident and her son had requested that videos showing the woman being stripped and assaulted be removed from social media.
Shailaja said that the police were approached based on the request made by the victim and her son to have such videos taken down.
However, her explanation was rejected by Dhanya Rajendran.
Dhanya Rajendran Denies Posting Any Video
Rajendran clarified that she had not posted any video related to the incident. She said that her social media post only contained text reporting the incident.
Questioning the police action, Rajendran asked whether journalists should refrain from reporting an incident when a crime has taken place.
Her response has added to questions over whether a text-based news report was incorrectly linked to requests for the removal of videos depicting the incident.
Questions Over Police Action
Following Rajendran’s response, there was no immediate further clarification from Rayapati Shailaja on the specific issue raised by the journalist.
The controversy has subsequently led to criticism from sections of journalists and public figures, who questioned the linking of a text-based news report with the removal of videos from social media.
The incident has also drawn attention to the circumstances under which the Andhra Pradesh Police allegedly contacted X and the use of the FBI’s name in the complaint.
Former IAS Officer, Journalist Voices Criticism
Retired IAS officer P.V. Ramesh and the editor of The South Post, among others, have reportedly commented on the controversy.
They raised questions over the police action and the subsequent attempts to justify it, making the issue a subject of wider discussion among journalists and social media users.
The controversy has particularly focused on the distinction between reporting an incident through a text-based news post and sharing or circulating graphic video content related to the incident.
YSRCP Criticises Andhra Pradesh Government
The opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has used the controversy to criticise the Andhra Pradesh government, alleging that the administration is attempting to suppress those who question the government.
The party has argued that the difficulties reportedly being faced by journalists at the national level over the alleged conduct of Andhra Pradesh Police are indicative of the government’s approach towards criticism.
The controversy has therefore evolved beyond the original Guntur incident, with questions being raised about the police’s social media practices, the protection of victims of crimes against women, and the freedom of journalists to report on criminal incidents.
