Journalist among 2 held for 'offensive' comments on Maha Kumbh
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Barabanki (UP): A journalist and another individual have been arrested in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh for allegedly posting offensive comments on social media about the Maha Kumbh and Hindu deities, police reported on Wednesday. The two men were apprehended on Tuesday evening after their remarks triggered anger among some members of the Hindu community, prompting the police to ramp up social media monitoring.
City Kotwali SHO Alok Mani Tripathi stated that Kamran Alvi, a journalist with over 9,000 followers on Facebook, was arrested after sharing a video related to the Maha Kumbh. The video reportedly offended some viewers, and higher authorities took note of the incident. Alvi was charged under Section 299 of the BNS Act for "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings." He is expected to be presented in court soon.
Alvi runs a news portal and describes himself as a journalist on his social media profile. Police are also investigating others involved in circulating the video.
In a separate case, Abhishek Kumar, a resident of Boja village near Jaidpur, was arrested for making objectionable comments on social media about Hindu deities and the Maha Kumbh. Police have registered a case against him as well.
The Maha Kumbh, one of the largest and most significant Hindu pilgrimages, began on January 13 in Prayagraj and is scheduled to continue until February 26.
With PTI inputs