Bihar authorities nab YouTuber sharing fake TN attack videos

Manish Kashyap, a YouTuber wanted by the Bihar police for allegedly sharing fake videos of "attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu", surrendered to law enforcement officials in West Champaran district on Saturday.

The Bihar Police's Economic Offenses Unit (EOU) has registered three cases against Kashyap and others accused of "indulging in spreading fake videos of killing and beating of migrants in Tamil Nadu on social media". The EOU also froze four bank accounts belonging to Kashyap.

"Kashyap, who is wanted by the Bihar Police and the Tamil Nadu Police in connection with fake news regarding the labour issue in the southern state, surrendered to the police on Saturday fearing arrest and confiscation of his belongings," said a statement issued by the EOU.

“Six teams formed by the EOU along with the Patna and Champaran police have been conducting round-the-clock raids on his places at various locations and hideouts since Friday. He surrendered at the Jagdishpur police station in Bettiah on Saturday as he feared arrest and further legal action,” he added.

The EOU registered its first FIR in the case on March 6 and booked four persons, including Kashyap. EOU sleuths have already arrested Aman Kumar from Jamui in connection with the investigation of the first FIR. Those named in this FIR included Aman Kumar, Rakesh Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh Rajput and Manish Kashyap.

Bihar Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) JS Gangwar told last week that an EOU probe found that 30 fake videos of migrants being beaten and killed in Tamil Nadu were widely shared on social media, spreading panic among workers. and forced them to flee the southern state.

The Tamil Nadu police have also registered 13 cases to investigate the matter. Earlier, the Bihar government had also sent a four-member team of top officials to Tamil Nadu to coordinate with officers investigating the matter.