'Just Liked A Video On YouTube': Lorry Owner Manaf Expresses Shock Over Police Notice On Dharmasthala

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: Kerala native and truck owner Manaf, who was recently booked by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the mass burial case of Dharmasthala in Karnataka, is now surprised at why the police registered a case against him in connection with the incident.

Manaf, also a Youtuber, on Sunday said that all that he did was just liking a video on YouTube which was not even created or uploaded by him. When the content came onto his feed, he just liked a video regarding the Dharmasthala mass burial case, Manaf said, adding that there were over one thousand likes at the time he clicked the like button on the video.

Manaf expressed his wonder why the probe team selectively targeted him just for liking a video. He did not even know its creator on the social media platform, the truck owner lamented.

He noted that the complaint which was filed against him alleged that he engaged in spreading religious divisiveness and hatred. However, the truck owner pointed out the reason why he was picked by the police was that the video he liked mentioned the Dharmasthala temple.

He further expressed shock that if police arrested all those who liked such videos, the jails in the country would not be sufficient, highlighting why he was targeted by the authorities.

Recently, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued a notice to Manaf in connection with the case. The Kozhikode native truck owner, who came to the public limelight after the death of his Malayali truck driver Arjun a year ago in a landslide in Shirur, was directed to appear before the probe agency for interrogation on the matter.

Manaf had allegedly shot videos in Dharmasthala and posted them on social media before the formation of the probe team. He had also reportedly shot videos during the search for the bodies.