There has been widespread outrage across the country and calls for Shahrukh Hussain to be punished in the wake of the Ankita Singh murder case in Jharkhand. Amidst all this, Simab Akhtar, a News4Nation journalist from Patna, has attempted to defend Shahrukh Hussain’s crime. Simab stated in a Facebook post that such incidents are common and that she was burnt alive because of cheating.
The screenshot of the comment by Simab has since gone viral over the internet. In the post, Simab wrote, “Shouldn’t get too agitated. This burning and all is anyway common” (translated). After reading this comment, a user asked him, “Where have you learned such journalism from? Simab Akhtar sir. Your language is not good at all.”
To that, instead of condemning what Shahrukh did, Simab responded by saying, “She cheated, therefore she was burnt. Where there is lust, there sympathy…” (translated).
Following the comments by Simab Akhtar, several social media users condemned his attitude towards the victim. Raising the matter, Shubham Bhardwaj of Bajrang Dal took to Twitter and wrote, “Journalist Simab Akhtar has made indecent remarks on sister Ankita Singh who was burnt by heretics. Is there any government machinery to take action?”
पत्रकार @simabakhtar2 ने विधर्मियों द्वारा जलाई गई बहन अंकित सिंह पर अमर्यादित टिप्पणी की है। कोई सरकारी तंत्र है जो कार्रवाई करे?#JusticeForAnkitaSingh @swati_gs @AjeetBhartii @KapilMishra_IND @officecmbihar @bihar_police @news4nations @OpIndia_in @OpIndia_com @News18Bihar pic.twitter.com/ZKPc9x6m9r
— Shubham Bhardwaj (@Shubham_vhp) August 30, 2022
Twitter user Mihir Jha wrote, “Meet Simab Akhtar – Patna-based senior Journalist of News4Nation. This is how he’s celebrating #Shahrukh burning #AnkitaSingh He then goes on to make se¥ually suggestive comments again.”
Meet Simab Akhtar – Patna based senior Journalist of News4Nation.
— Mihir Jha (@MihirkJha) August 30, 2022
This is how he’s celebrating #Shahrukh burning #AnkitaSingh
He then goes on to make se¥ually suggestive comments again. pic.twitter.com/aDX1M1rfFH
Following the outrage on social media, Simab Akhtar took a U-turn and apologised for his remarks made on Facebook. In a tweet, he wrote, “I had made an inappropriate comment on Ankita Singh for which I am very sorry and apologize to all of you. Shahrukh, who killed sister Ankita should get the death sentence..! There is no place for criminals who commit such acts in society.”
अंकिता सिंह के लिए मुझसे अमर्यादित टिप्पणी हो गई थी जिसके लिए मैं बहुत शर्मिंदा हूँ और् आप सभी से क्षमा मांगता हु
— Simab Akhtar سیماب اختر (@simabakhtar2) August 30, 2022
बहन अंकिता का हत्या करने वाला शाहरुख को फांसी की सजा मिले..!
समाज में ऐसे कृत्य करने वाले अपराधियों का कोई जगह नहीं है, pic.twitter.com/xpKQ3BDZAK
It is to be noted that Ankita Kumari, who was set ablaze by her stalker neighbour named Shahrukh Hussain on Tuesday (August 23) morning in Dumka in Jharkhand, died on Sunday in hospital. Ankita breathed her last at 2:30 AM on Sunday morning. She was admitted to Ranchi RIMS for treatment.
