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Friday, November 8, 2013

US website takes satire too far, makes up ‘Assam Rape Festival’

US website takes satire too far, makes up ‘Assam Rape Festival’

Read more at: http://www.firstpost.com/living/us-website-takes-satire-too-far-holds-assam-rape-festival-1217025.html?utm_sourWhen freelance writer David Emery from About.com came to the rescue of NationalReport.net for its ‘satitical article‘ on the Assam Rape Festival he perhaps forgot that even satire, no matter how ingenious they are, cannot flout the norms of propriety. The so-called US based “humour” website NationalReport.net on 3 November came out with a piece that the Assam Rape Festival will begin this week. “Men in India are already beginning to celebrate as the annual Assam Rape Festival is just days away. Every non-married girl age 7-16 will have the chance to flee to safety or get raped,” the horrifying piece said.
When freelance writer David Emery from About.com came to the rescue of NationalReport.net for its ‘satitical article‘ on the Assam Rape Festival he perhaps forgot that even satire, no matter how ingenious they are, cannot flout the norms of propriety. The so-called US based “humour” website NationalReport.net on 3 November came out with a piece that the Assam Rape Festival will begin this week. “Men in India are already beginning to celebrate as the annual Assam Rape Festival is just days away. Every non-married girl age 7-16 will have the chance to flee to safety or get raped,” the horrifying piece said.


What made matters worse was that the article even created a head of the festival called Madhuban Ahluwalia, who claimed that the festival has been held in Assam for thousands of years. The piece, which has no satirical elements whatsoever, is vulgar and outrightly salacious. Read one of the quotes which the article claims to have been said by one 23-year-old Harikrishna Majumdar: “I’m going to get the most rapes this year. I’ve been practicing raping my sister and her friends every day. I will be rape superstar number one! I will get the Baalkrishan prize this year for sure!” As if this was not enough, the man who rapes the most will be awarded The Baalkrishan trophy. The story also provides a phone number to be contacted for more details. “For more information on the festival or if you would like to participate, please call the 24-hour Assam Rape Festival hotline at (785) 273-0325“—the piece said. Expectedly, the article went viral on social media and netizens from all over the globe slammed Assam for organising such a festival. Emery, who correctly calls the article “fictitious”, has actually failed to judge the enormity of the negative impact that it is having on India as a nation and Assam in particular. He would surely agree that it isn’t a simple satire anymore if he goes through feedback on the piece. Comments below the piece like—”May God help this fallen nation!This is disgusting!!” (Vee), “this is really horrible … raping 7-16 year old girls. aren’t men suppose to protect us and not treat children like they are animals or whatever. something is wrong in India I’m hurt and disgusted” (Mo)—clearly suggest that it is no longer fun and the damage is already been done. The state police has already taken note of the matter. “We have got to know about the piece on NationalReport.net. The Criminal Investigation Department has already started an enquiry. We are looking to locate the source and the veracity of the website. Further action will depend on the report of the initial investigation,” Assam Police, Director General, Jayanta Narayan Choudhury told Firstpost from Guwahati. The link, which is now flying all over the place on Facebook, also evoked angry response slamming the article. “This is bizarre and stupid.. if it is a satire, it should be mentioned and if not the publication should be sued by both the government of India and the Assam government for defamation. Unpardonable,” said Ron from New Delhi. What is perplexing is the disclaimer available on National Report as it simply washes its hands off from anything foul that goes out from its domain: “The National Report is an online portal for “citizen journalists”. The views expressed by writers on this site are theirs alone and are not reflective of the fine journalistic and editorial integrity of National Report. Advice given is NOT to be construed as professional. If you are in need of professional help, please consult a professional. National Report is not intended for children under the age of 18.” Indeed this stuff is not for anyone below 18 or above.
A satirical piece by an American website apparently targeting the increase in sexual assaults on women in India has left Assam seething in anger over the mention of an "annual rape festival" in the northeastern state.

The Assam director general of police (DGP) Jayanto Narayan Choudhury on Thursday ordered a probe in Guwahati after the write-up was posted on Facebook, drawing angry response from netizens.

The write-up, titled 'The Assam Rape Festival In India Begins This Week', was first posted five days ago on a website nationalreport.net which claimed to be the US' most independent news site. The report was later picked up by many other news portals and forums.

Assam is among many states in India which has seen a rise in incidents of sexual assault on women. Just a few days ago, two women were raped and murdered in the capital city, triggering mob violence against alleged police inaction.

"Men in India are already beginning to celebrate as the annual Assam Rape Festival is just days away. Every non-married girl age 7-16 will have the chance to flee to safety or get raped," the write-up said, eliciting comments ranging from incredulity to anger.

"WTF..", wrote one user Gitima Das, using the abbreviated version of a common slang phrase.

Facebook users agreed that it was meant to be a satire but took objection to naming a state. "It's satire. But u can't name a state or a country while writing a satirical piece," wrote another Facebook user Tonmoy Borkotoky.

In fact, the satirical piece also dragged in other states. "The Assam Festival began in 43 BC when Baalkrishan Tamil Nadu raped everyone in his village of Ludhiana. Baalkrishan Tamil Nadu is remembered every year at this event, in fact the trophy given to the man with the most rapes is called The Baalkrishan."

Apparently, the piece is identical to a similar piece posted by the same website, only the state targeted that time was Punjab.

Devraj Upadhyay, the superintendent of police of Assam Police's CID, said that they have already started a probe into the matter. "We have taken up a suo moto case. It is a sensitive issue and we will take up the matter with the matter with the website," Upadhyay told Hindustan Times over phone from Guwahati.

The probe will be handled by the CID's cyber crime cell.
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