Police in Karnataka on Wednesday registered a criminal case against two social media office-bearers of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Assam unit for allegedly sharing an AI-generated video that appeared to show Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aiming and firing at individuals dressed in attire resembling that of members of the Muslim community.
The case was filed in Bengaluru following a complaint by businessman Ranjith Kumar R on February 12. In his complaint, he termed the content “highly objectionable and disturbing” and said the video was posted on the official BJP Assam social media handle with the caption “Point Blank Shot…”.
Biswajith Khaund and Ron Bikash Gourav, identified as the convenor and co-convenor of the party’s Assam social media accounts, have been named as accused.
According to the complaint and the First Information Report (FIR), the post featured an image and video clip purportedly depicting Sarma firing a gun-like weapon at two men, and ended with a stylised visual of him dressed as a cowboy holding a firearm.
The video also carried superimposed phrases such as “No mercy to Bangladeshis”, “Why did you go to Pakistan?” and “Foreigner-free Assam.” Sarma has denied any knowledge of the video, which has since been deleted.
Police said the content was alleged to be provocative and capable of disturbing public order by promoting enmity between communities.
An FIR was registered against Khaund and Gourav under Sections 192 (provocation with intent to cause a riot) and 353(2) (circulation of false information intended to incite hatred or ill-will between groups) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
