LUCKNOW: As many as five persons have been taken into custody by the Uttar Pradesh Police in a span of three days as five FIRs were lodged for pro-Pakistan slogans and social media posts after India’s loss in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
One Mohammed Musharraf was booked in Sitapur district on Wednesday for putting a post on social media in favour of Pakistan and spreading hate messages against India.
SHO, Rampur Mathura, Jitendra Ojha, said, “An FIR was lodged against Mohammed Musharraf on charges of criminal intimidation by anonymous communication.”
Similarly, one Mohammed Niyaz was booked at Faizganj Behta police station in Budaun district on the charges of sedition for posting the flag of Pakistan.
“Niyaz is accused of creating communal disturbance by uploading the flag after India lost to Pakistan,” said SHO, Faizganj Beta, Suresh Gautam.
Superintendent of police, Bareilly, Rohit Sajwan, said one FIR was lodged at the Izzatnagar police station under the Information and Technology Act against unidentified persons for using foul language against Indian team players and another for supporting Pakistan.
“In the one of the cases, the complainant was also threatened so charges of criminal intimidation have also been added,” he said. Both the cases are registered against unidentified persons and efforts are on to trace them, the officer said.
In Agra, three Kashmiri students were booked at the Jagdishpura police station on the charges of promoting enmity on ground of religion, race, birth, doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, intent to cause fear or alarm to the public and section 66 of the IT Act and were detained. Police said they raised anti-India slogans.
A senior official at DGP headquarters said, “All the district police chiefs have been instructed to keep vigil on social media and keep an eye on developments which may vitiate the atmosphere in the state.”
