In a stirring development in the digital realm, Venkatesh Prasad, a revered figure in the cricketing circles and renowned former Indian bowler, has unleashed a fiery verbal volley against Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News. Prasad's illustrious cricket career, marked by moments where he effortlessly sent opposing batters back to the pavilion, seems to echo in his fearless stance against individuals he perceives to be spreading misinformation.

Venkatesh Prasad, a name synonymous with cricketing prowess and spirited duels on the field, particularly his legendary face-off with Pakistani batter Aamir Sohail, hasn't lost an ounce of his fiery zeal post-retirement. His recent tussle with Zubair on social media platforms reveals his unflinching readiness to call out what he believes to be unjust, showcasing an enviable capacity to "clean bowl" individuals beyond the cricket field.

The recent outburst seems to have been sparked by Zubair's alleged engagement in spreading misinformation and sowing seeds of hatred, masquerading as a 'fact-checker'. Prasad took to Twitter to voice his stern objections against what he perceives as an alarming tendency of Zubair to indulge in hate-mongering, all the while seeking refuge under the guise of conducting 'fact-checks'.

Prasad didn't hold back in his criticism, drawing a stern parallel between Zubair's actions and a "terrorist talking about peace", indicating a perceived hypocrisy in Zubair's online persona. In his tweet, Prasad vividly expressed his disapproval, stating, “Haha.. Says a serial hate-monger, who has put so many lives in danger for his agenda. You disguising as a fact-checker is like Terrorists talking about peace”. This vehement response was accompanied by a screenshot showcasing a tweet, which had since been deleted by Zubair.

Moreover, Prasad highlighted a growing concern over Zubair's controversial online activities, including alleged instances of igniting animosity towards certain figures, notably former BJP leader Nupur Sharma. Zubair was accused of sharing a selectively clipped video of Sharma’s statements from a Times Now debate, which Prasad insinuates was a calculated move to incite Islamists against her.

Further adding fuel to the fiery exchange, Prasad pointed out an instance where Zubair shared a screenshot of a tweet authored by him (Prasad), wherein he was critical of both BCCI and ACC. This exchange has now magnified the spotlight on Zubair, with Prasad sternly categorising him as a deceitful entity, one who allegedly utilizes his platform to disseminate misinformation and foster hatred, all while actively soliciting donations under the disguise of journalism.

Prasad voiced a sentiment of deep disdain, remarking, "Am aware of him putting lives at risk and posting derogatory stuff about Hindu Gods. A real shame that such deceivers still can disguise as journalists and beg for donations,". This stern rebuke, echoing in the digital corridors, lays bare Prasad's unyielding stance against what he perceives as a troubling trend of misinformation and deceit proliferating under the banner of 'fact-checking'. This saga seems to be far from over, promising more fiery exchanges in the times to come.

The back-and-forth escalated with Prasad unabashedly accusing Zubair of masquerading as a reliable fact-checker while nurturing an agenda of hate-mongering. Prasad, known for his straight-shooting nature, both on and off the cricket field, didn't restrain his words while expressing his disdain for Zubair’s approach to fact-checking, accusing him of financial opportunism under this guise. “Now post that you need money to survive and ask for donations for your website, No shame in living off by fooling people,” Prasad rebuked, accentuating his statement with a dose of sarcasm.

Prasad, who identifies as a devout devotee of Lord Ram, also took the opportunity to clarify his stance regarding a deleted tweet that criticized the BCCI. He explained that his initial tweet had been taken out of context and twisted, causing confusion among his followers. This misinterpretation, especially given his other tweets addressing the BCCI's inefficiency regarding ticket management, propelled him to retract the tweet to avoid further confusion. “Since I was also speaking about the inefficiency of the BCCI around tickets in other tweets, it led to confusion and looked out of context. Hence deleted, varna naam lekar khulkar bolne mein Rambhakt kisiko chhodte nahin , Jai Shree Ram,” Prasad elucidated, emphasizing his fearless nature and devotion to Lord Ram with a powerful declaration: "I am a devotee of Ram, I won't spare anyone, Jai Shri Ram".

Prasad's palpable annoyance with Zubair was further aggravated when another user on the platform formerly known as Twitter drew attention to Zubair's alleged repeated instances of spreading misinformation. Responding to this user, Prasad showcased disbelief and a touch of scorn towards Zubair's audacity to continue labeling himself as a 'fact-checker'. He remarked, “My goodness.. has guts to still call himself Fact-checker. Won’t have the balls to question his paymasters.” The fiery exchange underscored Prasad's perception of Zubair as someone who lacked the courage to confront those who supposedly bankroll his operations.

Moreover, Prasad doubled down on his concerns regarding Zubair's activities, highlighting his awareness of Zubair's derogatory remarks concerning Hindu deities. He characterized Zubair as a deceptive individual who shamelessly seeks financial aid under the disguise of journalism. “Am aware of him putting lives at risk and posting derogatory stuff about Hindu Gods. A real shame that such deceivers still can disguise as journalists and beg for donations,” Prasad reiterated, casting Zubair in a light of deception and irresponsibility.

This intense exchange on the digital platform has accentuated Prasad’s unyielding stance against what he perceives to be misinformation and hatred perpetuated under the banner of journalism and fact-checking, marking another chapter in the increasing scrutiny of online fact-checking portals. It seems Prasad is geared up to "clean bowl" misinformation, with the same zeal he showcased on the cricket field.

In a developing scenario that seems to be akin to a fiery exchange of fast-paced cricket match, a tweet posted by a user identified as @BefittingFacts has further stirred the pot. This user redirected the digital audience to a comprehensive thread curated by political activist Ankur Singh. In this thread, Singh meticulously catalogued various instances where Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News, was ostensibly caught either spreading fake news or brazenly disseminating false narratives.

If you are keen on examining the nuances of this heated exchange, you can delve into the details by reading the thread here. Additionally, an enumeration of 20 distinct instances where Zubair was caught in the act of lying and propagating fake news is documented here. However, be prepared to venture deeper as this compilation is merely the tip of the iceberg; it unravels only a fragment of the numerous occasions where Zubair allegedly misguided his online followers with deceptive news narratives.

The stakes escalated dramatically when, earlier last year, former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma found herself engulfed in a fiery whirlpool of controversy and threats. This explosive situation was ignited largely due to the inflammatory rhetoric emanating from individuals like Mohammed Zubair, who vehemently criticised Sharma for expressing her perspectives on Prophet Muhammad and Islam. This backlash didn't remain confined to the virtual world; it spilled violently onto the streets across various cities in India, spearheaded by radical elements who took umbrage at Sharma's comments.

Alarmingly, it seems that Zubair played a pivotal role in fanning the flames of this chaotic episode. His alleged inflammatory insinuations against Sharma acted as a catalyst, amplifying a minor issue into a volatile controversy that potentially put the lives of Sharma and her supporters in considerable danger. These insinuations metamorphosed into a rallying cry for extremists, drawing a bullseye on the backs of Sharma and anyone who dared to voice support for her. Intriguingly, despite his vociferous objections to Sharma's remarks and accusing her of engaging in hate speech, Zubair has conspicuously avoided subjecting Sharma's comments to a meticulous fact-checking process, an activity he claims to champion.

This glaring omission casts a significant shadow on Zubair's credibility as a genuine fact-checker, raising pertinent questions about the integrity of his methods and the impartiality of his platform. As this episode unfolds, it seems that the cricket field isn't the only place where a fierce battle of wills is taking place; the virtual realm is witnessing its share of vehement clashes and unyielding stances, spearheaded by individuals like Prasad who are determined to challenge misinformation head-on, with the fervor of a fast bowler on a cricket pitch.

In the turbulent aftermath of the controversy swirling around Nupur Sharma, a grim chapter unfolded that gripped the nation with a chilling resonance. As the vicious cycle of online hate took a ghastly turn into real-world violence, the repercussions of Zubair's alleged incendiary rhetoric reared its ugly head, claiming innocent lives and leaving families torn apart in its wake.

As the digital vitriol spiralled, figures such as Kanhaiya Lal from Udaipur and Umesh Kolhe in Amravati emerged, fearless and resolute, rallying behind the embattled Sharma. Their vocal support for her, however, marked them as targets in this virulent saga, ensnaring them in a perilous web spun from hatred and fanaticism. Their online support for Sharma was perceived as an affront, a transgression that warranted merciless reprisal.

Lal found himself in the crosshairs, faced with death threats and escalating hostility, as an enraged faction, ostensibly incited by Zubair's inflammatory remarks, bore down on him with fatal consequences. His 'crime' was nothing more than sharing a post in solidarity with Sharma, a seemingly inconsequential act that tragically cost him his life. This abhorrent event underlines the very tangible dangers of online hate spiralling into real-world violence, exemplifying how a single tweet can trigger a disastrous chain of events.

Tragically, Kolhe, a chemist residing in Maharashtra’s Amravati met with a fate mirroring Lal's. His life was brutally cut short on a fateful June night by four assailants, who hunted him down for echoing Sharma's sentiments on social media. This senseless act of violence paints a grim picture of the vicious cycle of retaliation and extremism that has gripped parts of the nation.

These horrifying developments point towards an alarming phenomenon dubbed as 'stochastic terrorism'. This term encapsulates the demonisation of an individual or group in the public sphere to such an extent that it incites statistically probable acts of violence, whose precise occurrences are unpredictable.

In this case, Zubair finds himself accused of being a primary orchestrator in this vicious narrative, having allegedly initiated a spiteful campaign against Sharma, accusing her of defaming Prophet Muhammad, and unleashing a torrent of virulent hate that ultimately culminated in the loss of innocent lives. The narratives surrounding Zubair's actions underline the pressing need to hold individuals accountable for their online rhetoric, showcasing the very real, and sometimes fatal consequences of online hate mongering.

As this sombre tale unfolds, one is compelled to ponder on the pervasive repercussions of incendiary rhetoric in the digital sphere, an arena that has been transformed into a battlefield where words become weapons, capable of igniting fires that consume the very fabric of society, leaving trails of devastation, loss, and an urgent plea for sanity and reason in their wake.