DODA, April 26 — Police in Doda district arrested a man in Leh, Ladakh, on Thursday for allegedly posting derogatory content on Facebook about a revered religious figure, a police official said, amid growing public outrage and calls for calm in the restive Jammu & Kashmir region.
The First Information Report (FIR), registered under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, charged the accused under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Section 67(A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The accused was identified as Deep Singh, also known as Deep Singh Chib, from Kastigarh, Doda. The FIR, numbered 0082, was lodged at Doda Police Station on April 24, following a complaint by Hassan Babur, a prominent advocate and social worker known for aiding the poor and needy. The post, deemed offensive for targeting a beloved prophet, sparked widespread condemnation.
Authorities acted swiftly, tracking Singh to Leh, where he was apprehended. “He has been arrested and brought back to Doda and investigation is underway,” a police official told The Chenab Times.
“We are thankful to SSP Doda, DC Doda, DySP Doda, and SHO PS Doda for their timely action,” Babur said in a statement. “I request all people to maintain calm and not indulge in illegal activity. Let the law take its own course.”
News of the derogatory remarks spread rapidly on social media, with locals condemning the act. A video posted by local activist Nayamtullah Zargar from Kastigarh, Doda, featuring several community members, has garnered 1,54,000 views. In the video, Zargar demanded swift action, stating, “Gustaakhe…Rasoolﷺ ….ko jaldi arrest kiya jaye… #Dc_Doda #sspdoda …Deep Singh Chib from Teh Kastigarh….” He emphasized that whether Chib was in Doda or Leh, he should be arrested for hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims.
The incident follows heightened tensions in Jammu & Kashmir, exacerbated by a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, including tourists. Earlier this month, on April 5, Doda police filed a similar FIR over sensitive content, triggering protests and a partial shutdown in Bhaderwah.
Police have withheld further details about Singh’s motives or the post’s content. The investigation continues, and authorities urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information online.
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Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times
