The Wire downplays the cold-blooded murder of Ram Gopal Mishra in Bahraich as an act of “self-defence”
India 
15 October, 2024
Case Summary
The Wire, a left-leaning media outlet, framed the murder of 22-year-old Hindu youth Ram Gopal Mishra in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, as an act of "self-defence" by Muslim assailants. Mishra was reportedly killed after he replaced a green flag with a saffron one at Abdul Hamid’s home following a dispute during the Durga Visarjan procession. The Wire's video report titled “Who is behind the communal riots in Bahraich?” was published on October 16, where journalist Sharat Pradhan suggested that the BJP and RSS incited communal tension, linking it to upcoming by-polls. Pradhan alleged that Hindu slogans and actions had angered Muslims, who then resorted to violence. He described Mishra’s removal of the flag as an invasion of Muslim homes, asserting that such actions could lead to retaliation. He dismissed Mishra's murder as “self-defence” and claimed that the BJP used the incident to create a narrative of Muslim-instigated violence for political advantage in poll-bound Maharashtra. Pradhan’s comments sparked criticism for downplaying Mishra's death and attributing it to political motives.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of Hate speech against Hindus. Within this, the sub-category selected is- Media Bias and under this, a tertiary category named, 'Anti-Hindu Fake News or Downplaying' has also been selected, as per the case details. Hate speech is defined as any speech, gesture, conduct, writing, or display that is prejudicial against a specific individual and/or group of people, which is leading to or may lead to violence, prejudicial action or hate against that individual and/or group. Media plays a specific and overarching reach in perpetuating prejudicial attitudes towards a community owing to unfair, untrue coverage and/or misrepresentation/misinterpretation, selective coverage and/or omission of facts of/pertaining to issues affecting a specific religious group. This type of bias can dehumanise the victim group, making it easier for others to justify harmful actions against them, which aligns with the objectives of hate speech laws aimed at preventing such harm. It is often observed that the media takes a prejudicial stand against the Hindu community driven by their need to shield the aggressor community which happens to be a numeric minority, however, is the one perpetrating violence against Hindus. For example, the media is often quick to contextualise religiously motivated crimes against Hindus, omit or misrepresent facts that point towards religiously motivated hate crimes, justify and/or downplay religiously motivated hate crimes or simply present fake news to stereotype Hindus. Such media bias leads to the denial of persecution and is often used to dehumanise Hindus, leading to justification for violence against them. For example, the media covered several fake allegations of Hindus targeting Muslims and forcing them to chant Jai Shree Ram. Most of these cases were proved false and fabricated after police investigation. These fake news reports were subsequently never retracted or clarified. Such fake news led to the justification of violence and dehumanisation of Hindus based on the argument that since Hindus targeted Muslims and forced them to chant Jai Shree Ram, the dehumanisation of Hindus and violence against them was par for the course and merely a retaliation. Such media bias leads to prejudicial portrayal of Hindus and offers a justification for violence against them and therefore, is considered hate speech under this category. A Muslim mob brutally killed Ram Gopal Mishra in the presence of police on 13th October in the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh during a visarjan procession of Goddess Durga’s idol. The accused dragged his body inside Abdul Hamid’s home after he was killed there. According to a viral video, his corpse was also attacked with stones and bullets as some people tried to bring down him from the roof. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation and raised serious concerns about the safety of Hindus in the area. In the aftermath of the heinous murder, the reporting by leftist media houses like The Wire has been alarming, showcasing the bias and hate they harbour for Hindus and Hinduism. This report states how the ultra-leftist media portal, The Wire framed the brutal killing of the young Hindu man as a justified response to provocation. By portraying the actions of the Muslim assailants as 'self-defence' in response to Mishra's alleged provocation—namely, the replacement of a green flag with a saffron one—The Wire not only undermines the seriousness of the crime but also implies that the victim’s actions warranted violent retribution. This narrative shifts the responsibility away from the perpetrators and instead places it on Mishra, thereby erasing the victimization inherent in his murder. Moreover, the journalist's assertion that the BJP and RSS are manipulating the incident for political gain further obscures the reality of Mishra's death, portraying it as part of a broader political strategy rather than recognizing it as a targeted hate crime rooted in religious animosity. By failing to condemn the violence unequivocally and by trivializing the tragedy of a young life lost, The Wire's reporting reflects a bias that stems from a deep-seated animosity for Hindus and their faith. Further, this deliberate targeting of Hindus and their beliefs through one-sided narratives serves to malign their identity, culture, and faith, aligning with the broader scope of hate crimes that aim to marginalize or vilify a specific religious community and this is why this case deserves to be documented here, in the tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
