Two Arrested For Allegedly Desecrating An Idol In A Temple For TikTok Video

It was only last month that the conversation about problematic content on TikTok came to the fore. This type of content, sadly, even came from influencers with millions of followers.

Videos glorifying sexual harassment, domestic abuse and animal abuse were not censored from the platform when uploaded.?

TOI

Now, two people have been arrested for allegedly desecrating an idol in a temple in Shapar Veraval industrial zone in Rajkot, Gujarat.

Police said the accused, identified as Jayesh Chudasma, 27, and Dinesh Mahida, 25, had also shot a TikTok video clip of their alleged crime and uploaded it on WhatsApp and social media on June 28, reports TOI.?

According to the report, the accused told the cops that they were heavily drunk when they committed the crime.?

In the video Chudasma is the one seen desecrating the idol, while Mahida shot the video. The video have upset many as religious sentiments have been hurt.?

One Karan Parmar, a resident of Metoda GIDC, found the video extremely offensive. He carried out an independent inquiry into the matter and found out that the alleged crime was committed in Shapar Veraval industrial zone.

"As soon as the complaint was lodged, we swung into action and traced the accused. The accused are also seen smoking in the temple premises in the video. Both the accused are labourers. They said they were looking for a subject to make a TikTok video and decided that the desecration of an idol in a temple would make a sensational video," TOI quoted an official from Shapar Veraval police station.

"The accused also said that they were in an inebriated state when they had committed the crime. They also claimed to have made another video saying 'sorry' about their act and uploaded it on WhatsApp and social media," the official further said.?

Last month, #BanTikTok was one of the top trends on Twitter in India for various reasons one of which was?that some of the videos on the platform were deemed degrading towards women and those normalising violence.?

The National Commission for Women (NCW) filed a complaint against TikTok user Faizal Siddiqui after a video that allegedly 'promoted' violence and acid attacks on women went viral causing massive outrage. Even though the video showed the man throwing ‘water’ on the girl’s face, it is highly suggestive and degrading in its message.

Today,? TikTok is one of the 59 Chinese apps recently banned by the Indian government.?