Daijiworld Media Network - Davanagere (SP)
Davanagere, May 19: The police have arrested five persons in connection with issuing statements which can harm peace and harmony relating to the purchase of clothes, and uploading the video on social media. The arrested persons happen to be Fayaz Ahmed, Syed Apap Ahmed alias Apu, Imtiaz, and Mansoor from Vinobanagar here, and Khalid Pailwan from Chamarajpet.
Relating to another similar case in Harihar in the district, search for the accused is on, said district superintendent of police (SP), Hanumantharaya, on Monday.
The accused reportedly stationed themselves near B S Channabasappa and Sons on Chetana Hotel Road, Malbar Cottons near Vijayalaxmi Road and Naveen cut-piece textile store near Harihareshwara temple in Harihar. They were seen restraining Muslim ladies against making any purchases in cloth shops run by Hindus. Their movements reportedly gave rise to a sense of anxiety among the people from the area.
The youngsters had also hurled abuses at the shop owners in filthy language. Video clips connected with these activities had become viral on social media.
The SP said that three separate cases under different sections of the Indian Penal Code have been registered in KTJ Nagar, Basavanagar, and Harihar town police stations. The men have been charged with illegal assembly, crowding despite coronavirus restrictions on social distancing, issuing statements which harbour enmity, forming a group of like-minded people and trying to vitiate religious harmony.
The SP said that moral policing has no place here and that the police will not tolerate such behaviour and the guilty would be proceeded against as per law.
Social media monitoring cell has already been functioning in the district police office to keep an eye on people issuing derogatory, inflammatory and messages harming religious harmony on social media. Therefore, he advised people not to share such videos and inform the nearest police station if they come across any objectional videos.
He said that in case such videos go viral, admins of the WhatsApp group and those who send the message will face strict legal action.