WHEN unverified claims on social media, the heavy-handed response of the state, and mistrust between the rulers and the ruled come together, the results are explosive, as borne out by the protests across Punjab.

The disturbances began on Monday, after social media reports claimed a college student had been raped in Lahore. Students have been at the forefront of the demonstrations that have since spread to many cities in the province. The Punjab administration denied the incident and has blamed the PTI for fanning the flames.

In order to quell the protests, the administration shut down educational institutions and banned demonstrations. Nearly 400 people were arrested, including students, though some were later released. The FIA is now hunting down journalists, TikTokers and YouTubers that it believes spread the allegedly fake rape story.

Whenever allegations of a heinous crime, such as rape, emerge, the state must address them with utmost seriousness and fully probe the matter so that it can punish the guilty if the crime is established. Unfortunately, the Punjab government’s reaction, including that of its chief minister and her team, has left much to be desired. Dealing with rape claims and the anger of agitated youngsters, the state’s response should have been characterised by empathy. But this was not the case, with the CM herself drawing condemnation for using “regressive language”, as pointed out by the Aurat March.

Yet it is also true that when disinformation spreads on social media, it can set a society on fire. Up till now, no victim has emerged, and the family of the student who was allegedly raped has denied she was assaulted. In fact, some of the students involved in spreading the news of the ‘crime’ have backtracked on their words. To counter doubtful claims, the best course for the state is honesty, and giving all the facts to the public in a respectful manner. Threatening the people and unleashing brute force via the police will only make matters worse.

Another aspect of the unfortunate episode that deserves deep thought is the widening distrust between the state and its citizens. Despite the government’s denial of the incident, many people believe that a ‘cover-up’ is underway. Even if the government is correct in this case, its mistreatment of the public in various ways — through political persecution, the denial of fundamental rights, and economic pain — has sparked anger.

In such circumstances, all it takes is a social media post to further rile up an irate public. While there should be no room for violence in any situation, and protests must remain peaceful, unless the state rebuilds its trust with the populace and starts respecting their rights and freedoms, we can expect to see more societal strife, triggered by rumours or half-truths.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2024