FIR filed against three for hate speech, social media accounts may face closure

Nikhil Bhardwaj

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Ludhiana, July 13

Five days after Commissioner of Police (CP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal reiterated that hurting religious sentiments would not be tolerated any more and any comment or speech against any religion or community would invite a penal action, the Ludhiana police on Saturday registered three such cases. Two against Hindu activists and one against a Sikh activist.

Confirming the development to The Tribune here today, Chahal said: “There will be zero tolerance against hate speech. Any person, irrespective of the religion or community one belongs to, face action as per the law if he indulge in such offence. Strict instructions had already been issued to SHOs of all police stations in this regard.”

Today in the Police Commissionerate, Ludhiana, three such FIRs under relevant sections have been registered against the suspects and further investigation was launched, he added.

As per information, the first FIR was registered at the cyber police station under various sections of the BNS. It was registered on the statement of constable Loverpreet Singh regarding objectionable content uploaded from Facebook account of Gavin Gill against the Hindu community.

Another FIR was registered at the Tibba police station against Sumit Josuja Arora, a resident of Sat Kartar Nagar, Ludhiana, who had posted hateful religious posts on Facebook.

The third FIR was also registered at the Tibba police station against Neeraj, a resident of near gurdwara, Tibba, who had posted a hateful religious post on Facebook.

Top cop Kuldeep Chahal said since hate speech sometimes leads to serious consequences, assault and communal disharmony among residents, persons loading any such posts on their social media accounts may face closure of the same. Besides, they would also face legal action as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Cyber cell of the Ludhiana police is already keeping a tab over such social media accounts and if needed, the police would write to the authorities concerned for deactivation of such accounts.

‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ posters create row

As Shiv Sena leader Sandeep Thapar, alias Gora, was discharged from the DMCH on Saturday, posters displaying ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ (Tiger is alive) pasted in the city created a row. Someone put up posters in the city to claim that the Hindu leader has no fear and is still alive. Sources said after the police came to know about the matter, they torn the posters and warned Shiv Sena workers to avoid putting up such posters, which may incite violence.