Late last week, the Goa Police announced the arrest of a Delhi-based YouTuber and social media content creator, Akshay Vashisht, for allegedly posting a reel titled ‘Goa ka haunted airport’. The police said that Vashisht, along with other collaborators, was responsible for “publishing information regarding Manohar International Airport, Mopa containing false, malicious and superstitious allegations in a manner that is capable of creating a fear and public alarm with intent to promote their channel.” The Judicial Magistrate First Class Court at Pernem released Vashisht and slammed the police for not following due process before the arrest, to an extent calling it an “illegal arrest.”
Such an arrest is uncalled for, betrays the state of Goa and the management of the Mopa Airport as insecure about their strengths and anxious about the damage created by individuals making unfounded claims about Goa and its assets. More than that, one can argue that such an arrest impinges on an individual’s constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of speech and smacks of a government being intolerant towards claims that most people regard as harmless. The arrest reflects police overreach, especially when other options for addressing problematic content are already available under the law, including takedown requests, legal notices to comply, and court injunctions.
Vashisht is a YouTuber whose channels focus on alleged horror stories, ghost sightings, paranormal activity, and the like. He is by no means unique in that genre. In fact, he isn’t even the first platform to talk about the alleged paranormal activity at the Mopa airport. Most of these claims are brushed aside by right-thinking people as the workings of those who want sensational, creepy but harmless encounters with the so-called supernatural.
Such theories have been around for years and, in this day and age, are generally taken with a pinch of salt. There are, of course, people who believe in this just as there are people who believe in psychics, soothsayers, astrology, traditional systems of medicine, and other superstitions, etc. There’s no doubt that freedom of speech is not absolute, but the question is, where do you draw the line? If Vashisht can be accused of publishing information containing “false, malicious and superstitious allegations in a manner that is creating fear and public alarm,” then a whole lot of other people, too, are equally or even more guilty of such transgressions.
Fear-mongering and sensationalism are quite literally the lifeblood of online creators and many mainstream broadcast platforms as well. Very often, these channels have a running disclaimer stating that “viewer discretion is advised.” Rather than suppress what is already a popular online theory, the arrest has only served to fuel speculation and thereby grant even more credence and popularity to the theory that the airport is indeed witness to ‘paranormal’ activity.
The Goa Police could do well to focus their energy on maintaining rule and law in Goa without fear or favour and devoid of political or corporate influence into their functioning. Making claims about the alleged paranormal activity at Goa’s Mopa Airport shouldn’t really be encouraged, but to crack down on those who are doing it anyway is quite counterproductive.
Constitutionally guaranteed freedoms are sacrosanct and should not be whittled away with arrests for frivolous reasons, especially when other options are available in law. The police clearly need to do better.
