more-inThe WhatsApp hoax about migrant workers facing death threats in Kerala might have a disturbing nativistic subtext, according to State police investigators. An examination of their past social media activity has revealed attempts to drive a schism between the local population and migrant workers in communally sensitive localities. They based their misinformation campaign on the supposition that presence of migrant labourers, an estimated 20 lakh, could potentially change Kerala’s demography to the political advantage of specific minority communities. They have also not ruled out the possibility that business rivalry between labour suppliers could have motivated the fake news. The police have launched a social media campaign to counter the attempt to sow division between migrant workers and the indigenous population and to reassure other-State workers.

Source: The Hindu October 10, 2017 15:22 UTC