Sukhdev’s kin upset over viral post on death penalty

Kin of martyr Sukhdev Thapar and some city residents are infuriated over the misinformation being spread on social media regarding the date of pronouncement of the death penalty to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. While the death penalty was pronounced on October 7, messages on social media claim the date to be February 14.

Kin of martyr Sukhdev Thapar and some city residents are infuriated over the misinformation being spread on social media regarding the date of pronouncement of the death penalty to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. While the death penalty was pronounced on October 7, messages on social media claim the date to be February 14.

The death penalty to revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru was announced on October 7, 1930 and the execution was carried out on March 23, 1931. The post says people should not celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14 but remember the three for their sacrifice.(Gurminder Singh/HT)

Now the descendants of Sukhdev, who belonged to Ludhiana, have come out against the misinformation and rumours and shot off a letter to the director general of police, Punjab. They have asked the officer to take action against those who started the misinformation.

The messages on social media including Facebook and WhatsApp claim that the death penalty to the trio who had fought against the British rule was pronounced on February 14, “As a result, Indians should not celebrate this day but remember the three for their sacrifice on the day”.

The kin of Sukhdev Thapar under the umbrella of All India Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Memorial Trust have stated that such misguiding messages should be stopped immediately.

Ashok Thapar, national president of the trust stated, “There is a rumour regarding the date of death sentence of the martyrs on social media. It states that February 14 is the date of pronouncement of death sentence to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. But in reality, the death sentence was announced on October 7, 1930 and the execution was carried out on March 23, 1931,” said Thapar.

He said that the rumour could cause confusion among the young generation who may believe the messages on internet blindly.

Meanwhile, Sandeep Thapar, general secretary of the trust has asked the director general of police to investigate the origin of these messages and detect the persons who are behind the propagation of false information.

“There is an urgent need that factual information is propagated among the youth and such misinformation is removed from the social media,” said Sandeep.