Mohammed Zubair booked for alleged threat to India’s sovereignty over tweet on Yati Narsinghanand
Ghaziabad Police add s.152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and s.66 of IT Act to the FIR against Zubair.
Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court was informed on November 27 that Mohammed Zubair, journalist and co-founder of Alt News, is now being charged with offences under s.152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and s.66 of the Information Technology Act. This follows an FIR lodged by Ghaziabad Police over Zubair’s tweet calling out Yati Narsinghanand for alleged derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad.
Zubair has approached the High Court, seeking protection from arrest. During the hearing on November 25, the Court directed the investigating officer (IO) to file an affidavit specifying the penal sections applied. The IO’s affidavit submitted today disclosed the addition of new charges to the FIR. The Court permitted the amendment and scheduled the next hearing for December 3.
Under s.152 of the BNS, actions or communications that incite secession, rebellion, or activities endangering India's unity and sovereignty can lead to life imprisonment or up to seven years of imprisonment along with a fine.
The FIR against Zubair was based on a complaint by Udita Tyagi, General Secretary of the Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati Foundation. Tyagi accused Zubair of inciting violence by sharing an old video clip of Narsinghanand on October 3.
The complaint emerged after Zubair highlighted a public speech made by Narsinghanand on September 29, allegedly containing hate speech against Prophet Muhammad. Zubair referred to the speech as "derogatory and hateful" in his tweet.
While FIRs were registered against Narsinghanand across states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana, for inciting communal hatred, his supporters accused Zubair, Arshad Madani, and Asaduddin Owaisi of provoking protests at Ghaziabad’s Dasna Devi Temple.
In his plea, Zubair alleged that the FIR against him is a malicious attempt to deter him from exposing Narsinghanand’s communal and derogatory remarks. He also pointed out that Tyagi had referred to the FIR as a "publicity stunt" in a social media post.
Further developments are awaited as the High Court will hear the matter next on December 3.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
