Kalimpong: A malicious attempt of a YouTuber to portray the Nehru Road (Chowrasta) area of Darjeeling in West Bengal as a ‘Red Light area’ has left a large section of the locals fuming and demanding strict punishment against the vlogger.
The video titled “Darjeeling street view /darjeeling red light area / darjeeling street food & red light area location” has been posted by social media influencer Dipak Trivedi who goes by the name ‘Travelling Trends’ in YouTube.
Though posted around three years ago, the video, especially its title, caught the attention of social media users recently with several demanding that the vlogger be punished for his imprudent actions.
Demanding strict action against the YouTuber, the GNWO in its FIR said that the mention of a red light area in Darjeeling has given a negative image to the hill station and its society.
Following widespread outrage, an FIR was also lodged at the Sadar Police Station, Darjeeling by the Gorkha National Women’s Organization (GNWO) on Saturday.
Speaking to NewsFy, GNWO president Basundhara Pradhan said the video; especially its title, has profoundly hurt the sentiments of the people of Darjeeling.
“This repulsive attempt of the YouTuber to give Darjeeling a bad name and image is not at all acceptable. Chowrasta is not just a normal tourist place, but each and every citizen of Darjeeling is socially and emotionally connected to it,” Pradhan said.
Pradhan also demanded that the YouTube account of Trivedi be suspended and the vlogger be given exemplary punishment for his actions.
Sandeep Limbu, a senior political leader said the local administration and police should arrest Tirvedi at the earliest, bring him to Darjeeling and ask him to make a public apology.
Limbu, who is also the general secretary of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), Darjeeling branch, said that the punishment given to Trivedi should be an example for all those trying to blemish the image of Darjeeling.
“If this YouTuber is not punished, then the people will start looking at us, especially the women and girls of Darjeeling, in the wrong way. There is no red light area in Darjeeling and everyone knows that,” he said.
Darjeeling Sadar police station inspector-in-charge T S Nath said the police. along with help of the cyber cell have managed to identify and collect several relevant details of the YouTuber and necessary action would be taken against him.
“We will start by suspending his YouTube account soon,” he said while adding that further details of the investigation would be shared when the time is appropriate.
Efforts made to contact Trivedi for his comments were not successful. The title of the video was changed to “Darjeeling street view / darjeeling street food” at the time of filing this report.
