Who is Mohammed Zubair, Indian journalist arrested by Modi gov’t?
Al JazeeraSep 09, 2022
The Facts
The arrest of a freelance journalist in Jharkhand in eastern India has raised concerns among human rights activists and his family members, who say he was targeted for reporting on issues of marginalized tribal communities.
Rupesh Kumar Singh was arrested on July 17 for alleged links with the banned left-wing armed group, known as the Maoists, that has been in conflict with Jharkhand for decades and is primarily active in India's tribal-dominated states.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
This is part of a continued effort to crackdown on Maoist insurgents who have caused an enormous amount of violence in India for decades. The government is justified in doing all it can to protect the lives of its citizens, and its intervention has and will continue to curtail the strength of the insurgency.
Establishment-critical narrative
Singh's arrest is an attempt to silence him under the guise of keeping Jharkhand's streets safe. The Indian police are violating Singh's human rights by harassing him in retaliation for his reporting. This is clearly a case about freedom of the press. Singh should be commended for his willingness to report on the state-imposed repression.