Balasangham Children Protest After Meta Shuts Down Instagram Account

Malappuram: Balasangham children have staged a protest after Meta shut down an Instagram account run by members of the organisation's Health Centre Unit under the Pachattiri Village Committee in Vettam, Malappuram. The account was taken down by Meta recently after a video posted by Balasangham activist Muhammad Zain Saman through the ‘Kuttisakhav’ account went viral within minutes. Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan was among those who commented on the video. Meta removed the account without citing any specific reason. Balasangham's Pachattiri Village Committee organised a protest against Meta's action. The children held a placard that read, “Tell those who shut down our account that we were scared.” Around 100 children, including Muhammad Zain Saman of the Health Centre Unit, participated in the protest. Village Secretary Ashleel and President Devika led the protest. Village Coordinator Sreelakshmi, Area Coordinator Anil Kumar, CPI(M) Local Secretary Sulaiman, Mahila Association Area Secretary M E Vrinda, and CPI(M) Area Committee members Adv U Sainuddeen and Basheer Kodakkad extended their support. Following Meta's action, Zain Saman has created a new Instagram account under the name ‘Sakhav Sanu’. The new account currently has more than 61,000 followers. Zain Saman's parents said efforts are continuing to restore the old account.