Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, June 4: In a major crackdown against the spread of communal hatred via social media, Mangaluru City Police have arrested five individuals for allegedly circulating provocative content aimed at disturbing social harmony in the city and across Dakshina Kannada district.
Acting swiftly on intelligence inputs, the City Commissionerate formed special investigative teams to identify and apprehend those responsible for the inciting posts. All arrests are linked to cases registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with investigations now underway.
In the first case, Mohammad Aslam, 23, son of Aboobacker Siddiq and resident of Hejamady in Udupi district, has been arrested for allegedly spreading inflammatory content through an Instagram account named team_jokerzzz._.
Aslam was operating the account from Saudi Arabia, and based on evidence, the Mangaluru South Police registered a case under Crime No. 88/2025, invoking Sections 192 and 353(2) of the BNS.
A lookout circular (LOC) was issued against him, following which he was taken into custody. Police sources confirmed that investigation into the case is currently ongoing.
In the second case, two young men —Chetan (20), son of Nagaraju Bangera, residing in Surathkal, and Nithin Adapa (23), son of Yogish Adapa from Haleangadi Post —were found to be operating an Instagram account named team_karna_surathkal using a SIM card registered under a Muslim name.
The account was reportedly used to post inflammatory content through a user named Chennappa alias Muthu Suratkal.
An FIR was filed at Mangaluru North police station under Crime No. 58/2025, with charges under Sections 196(1) and 353(2) of the BNS. Both suspects have been arrested and are currently being questioned by investigators.
In the third incident, Riyaaz Ibrahim, 30, son of Ibrahim and a resident of Farangipete, Mangaluru, was taken into custody for allegedly spreading communal messages via the Instagram handle Beary_royal_nawab while based in Saudi Arabia.
Two separate FIRs have been filed against him — one at Barke police station (Crime No. 44/2025 under Section 353(2)) and another at Mulki Police Station (Crime No. 42/2025 under Sections 353(1)(c) and 353(2)).
A lookout circular was issued, leading to his arrest. Further investigations are in progress.
The fourth case involves Jamaal Zakir, 21, son of the late Mohammad Mustafa, residing at Kuloor Post, Mangaluru. He allegedly ran an Instagram page named Troll_bengare_ro_makka and shared inflammatory posts through it.
A case was registered at Mulki Police Station under Crime No. 44/2025, citing Sections 353(1)(c) and 353(2) of the BNS. Zakir was arrested and is currently in police custody.
In the fifth and final case, Guru Prasad, a resident of Kolavail, Haleangadi, Mangaluru City, was arrested for posting provocative messages on Facebook using an account named Guru dprasad Haleyangadi.
The FIR, filed at Mulki Police Station under Crime No. 53/2025, includes charges under Sections 196(1)(A), 353(2), 79, and 56 of the BNS. He was traced and taken into custody, and questioning is ongoing.
All five cases are being probed by special teams formed at the CEN crime police Station in Mangaluru.
The crackdown is being overseen by Mangaluru Police Commissioner Shri Sudheer Kumar Reddy, IPS, and guided by Deputy Commissioners of Police Shri Siddharth Goyal, IPS (Law and Order and Crime), and Ravishankar (Administration and Intelligence).
“The crackdown sends a strong message that attempts to incite communal disharmony via social media will not be tolerated,” said the city police commissioner involved in the operations.