Mumbai, Nov 19 (Mumbai Mirror) : Police on Sunday arrested a 21-year-old girl for questioning the total shutdown in the city for Bal Thackeray's funeral on her Facebook account.
Another girl who 'liked' the comment was also arrested.
The duo were booked under Section 295 (a) of the IPC (for hurting religious sentiments ) and Section 64 (a) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Though the girl withdrew her comment and apologized, a mob of some 2,000 Shiv Sena workers attacked and ransacked her uncle's orthopaedic clinic at Palghar, north of Mumbai.
The 21-year-old arrested for her Facebook post was among many who aired opinions on social networking sites.
"Her comment said people like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a 'bandh' (city shutdown) for that," Police Inspector Uttam Sonawane told the Mumbai Mirror.
Despite widespread concerns, there were no reports of unrest in Mumbai itself on the day of Bal Thackeray's crematon.,
In recent months, the country has shown sensitivity to criticism of its politicians, sparking criticism in turn from freedom of speech campaigners.
In September, campaigners were outraged by the arrest in Mumbai on charges of sedition of a cartoonist for his anti-corruption drawings. The charges were later dropped.
Chairman of the Press Council tells CM to ensure release of girl arrested over FB post
Former Supreme Court judge and Chairman of the Press Council of India Markandey Katju has written to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to protest against the arrest of two women for a post on Facebook protesting the shutdown over Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death
“To my mind it is absurd to say that protesting against a bandh hurts religious sentiments,” Katju said on his blog.
Pointing out that people were not living under a fascist dictatorship, the former judge said that the act of arrest appeared to be a criminal act since it was a violation under sections of the Indian Penal Code to wrongfully arrest or confine anyone.
The former Supreme Court judge has sought action against the police officials who arrested the woman.Image courtesy PIB
“Hence if the facts reported are correct, I request you to immediately order the suspension, arrest, charge sheeting and criminal prosecution of the police personnel (however high they may be) who ordered as well as implemented the arrest of that woman,“ Katju said.
The PCI chief said that legal consequences would follow if the Chief Minister failed to take action.
A 21-year-old girl and her friend were reportedly arrested in Palghar in Thane district after the girl posted a comment on her Facebook page criticising the closure of shops and other establishments following the Shiv Sena founder’s death.