Who is Amir Shokeen? Delhi-based influencer under fire for ‘Chinese taunts’ at Tripura youth – what’s against him | Today’s news
Amir Shokeen, a Delhi-based content creator who was arrested for racially abusing a Tripura youth, has been remanded in one-day judicial custody in a case registered at the Sadar Bazar police station.
DCP North District Niharika Bhatt said on Thursday that the police registered a case after coming across the incident on social media. Considering the gravity of the matter, the police took suo motu cognizance and filed a complaint themselves, reported ANI.
“In this case, we came to know through social media that a person named Amir Shokeen, a social media influencer and YouTuber, had used racial slurs against a man from Tripura. Considering the gravity of the matter, the police became a complainant and registered a case at Sadar Bazaar police station under the jurisdiction of North District. A case was registered under Section 192, B3hara 352y6 of the 5hara. Sanhita (BNS),” Bhatt said.
Shokeen was arrested by police on Thursday after a video allegedly surfaced online of him taunting the youth by calling him “chinky”, “Chinese President” and “Michael Jackson. He mocked the youth when he said he was Indian.
The video drew massive criticism on social media, with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha calling for action against the content creator.
“This wicked man will be punished”
Leaders across parties condemned the incident and demanded action.
“This evil man will be punished. The official complaint has been delayed but the Delhi Police and the Tripura Police will teach him a tough lesson,” the minister said.
Shokeen released an apology video stating that he made a mistake and that he never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments or any community. He also sought forgiveness from the people of Tripura.
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“Jai Babaji brothers as you know I made a video, it was a funny video but if any of the Tripura brothers are offended, again I am sorry, sorry,” he said. Referring to Saha’s contribution to the controversy, Shokeen added that he was also apologizing to the Chief Minister.
“I made a mistake,” he said, claiming to have deleted the video and seeking forgiveness with folded hands. “I have made more than 2,000 videos but nobody has ever hurt anybody and Hindus, Muslims, the whole community, I have never done anything wrong to anybody,” he said.
Who is Amir Shokeen?
Amir Shokeen is a content creator from Delhi with around 1.42 lakh (142,000) followers on Instagram. He films street comedy with interactions with people in public places and has made more than 2000 videos.
Shokeen was considered a person of “bad character” in Delhi’s Sadar Bazar area and was involved in several cases of brawling in the past, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Niharika Bhatt told PTI.
The police revealed that the influencer has a previous criminal record, with earlier cases registered against him under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 (voluntarily causing bodily harm), 324 (voluntary causing bodily harm with dangerous weapons), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
(With input from agencies)
