YouTuber arrested in Haryana, supporters protest: ‘Barged into woman tehsildar’s office, followed her to washroom with camera on’

Akarshan had allegedly barged into the office of a woman tehsildar in Karnal with a group of 40-50 people, alleging that their grievances were not being heard. He was doing a Facebook Live as he entered the office and started raising questions.

Karnal Superintendent of Police Shashank Kumar told The Indian Express, “He (Akarshan) is not accredited with any news organisation and runs his YouTube channel. He was doing a Facebook Live and shouting on camera. He forcibly entered the office of the tehsildar with a group of 50 people. In an attempt to save herself, the tehsildar went to the washroom. He followed her, entered the washroom and kept his camera on. When the chaos continued, the woman officer eventually came out of the washroom.”

“He kept saying on Facebook Live that he had forced the woman officer to come out of the washroom. This is not acceptable. It is outraging the modesty of a woman officer. How could he follow her to the washroom? We have registered a case and arrested him under relevant provisions of law.”

Monika Uppal said, “All the sections of law imposed against him should immediately be withdrawn. He was barely performing his duty as a journalist. He was only bringing truth to the fore. People were complaining that their work was not being done at the (tehsildar’s) office. He only showed that as part of his duty. Yesterday evening, he went for his walk and never came back. His phone was also switched off. We have not come here to create any law and order disruption. We have only come here to protest against the wrong committed to Akarshan. He is a respectable member of the society. He has always helped people in need. As part of his duty, he had only been exposing the truth. Arresting him is nothing but suppressing the truth and punishing a man who had been questioning the authorities for their wrongdoings.”

“My husband is innocent. He should be given justice and immediately released. These people (police) had been trying to falsely implicate him for many days but could not find anything against him,” Monika said.

“We appealed to the senior officers, but nobody met us last night. I met Akarshan last night for five minutes. He saw me and cried. He told me that he used to visit the police station to highlight people’s plight and report news, and today he was locked up for something he did not do,” Monika added.