Scribe booked for 'cyber-terrorism' in Haryana after social media post
Hisar: The Haryana police has booked a Hisar-based journalist for "cyber-terrorism" and "promoting enmity between classes" for one of his alleged social media posts.
The case was registered by the police against Rajesh Kundu, who runs a news portal, on Friday under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
Opposition leaders, including Randeep Singh Surjewala, Kumari Selja, Deepender Singh Hooda of the Congress and INLD's Abhay Singh Chautala, have condemned the registration of the case against Kundu. They have demanded that the case be immediately withdrawn.
Police said the journalist has been booked on charges of promoting enmity between different classes, assertions prejudicial to national integration and cyber-terrorism for one of his social media posts.
According to the FIR, in the social media post, Kundu had said Hisar would witness caste-based violence in a week and this will be a blueprint for an experiment in the state and then in the country.
The FIR was lodged on a complaint filed by a Hisar police official.
District police spokesperson Vikas stated in his complaint that inflammatory messages, which could incite the public, were allegedly sent to WhatsApp groups and over Facebook from Kundu's mobile phone number and this can have an impact on maintaining peace.
Therefore, a case should be registered against him, the complainant sought.
On the basis of the complaint, a case under sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) of the IPC and 66F (cyber-terrorism) of the IT Act was registered against the scribe here on April 9.
Kundu has been extensively covering the ongoing farmers' agitation against three new agriculture laws of the Centre.
The FIR triggered a strong reaction from Haryana journalists as well as opposition parties, who slammed the police move.
The opposition leaders claimed that the case was lodged against Kundu because he was raising the farmers' voice through his social media handles.
"When the government could not break the ongoing farmer agitation, it lodged an FIR against journalist Rajesh Kundu, who has become a voice of the farmers. Neither this voice can be suppressed nor the farmer agitation," Surjewala said in a tweet.
Journalists in Hisar held an emergency meeting at the PWD Rest House on Saturday evening and slammed the police for lodging the case against Kundu.
The Chandigarh Press Club also condemned the registration of the FIR against the Hisar-based journalist.
"Kundu was vocal in raising the farmers' voice during the ongoing agitation against the three farm laws. Now, Hisar police have booked him under charges of 'cyber terrorism' and 'promoting communal disharmony' over an alleged message that he posted on a WhatsApp group and Facebook," Press Club secretary general Saurabh Duggal said in a statement.
The statement mentioned that Kundu has maintained that he was "just performing his duty as a responsible citizen and as a journalist by sharing a post regarding his apprehension of violence on the basis of information received through sources".
"With this post, I just wanted to alert the people so that such a situation can be averted," the Press Club statement quoted Kundu as saying.
"In these circumstances, the registration of a criminal case against the journalist is highly condemnable. Not only this, the police have conducted raids at several places in Hisar apparently to create fear among the media fraternity," it said, adding that the Press Club will raise the matter with the chief minister.
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CEC orders immediate arrest of those involved in post-poll violence in Bengal: Official
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar directed the authorities concerned to immediately arrest those involved in post-poll violence and vandalism in West Bengal, an official said on Wednesday.
The Election Commission's directive came after two persons were killed in alleged incidents of post-poll violence in the state on Tuesday, besides scores of party offices being ransacked.
The CEC issued instructions to the West Bengal chief secretary, director general of police, Kolkata police commissioner and directors general of central armed police forces, along with all district magistrates, superintendents of police and other officials, to maintain continuous patrolling in sensitive areas, he said.
"Those responsible for inciting violence and carrying out acts of vandalism must be arrested immediately," the official said, quoting the CEC's instruction.
The chief election commissioner also stressed the need for swift and firm enforcement of the law, he added.
This directive came amid concerns over law and order in parts of the state, with the Election Commission closely monitoring the situation, he added.
"We have been asked to remain on high alert and ensure that any attempt to disturb peace is dealt with firmly," a senior police officer said.
The state authorities have intensified vigil across districts, with coordinated efforts between the police and central forces to prevent any untoward incident, he added.
The assembly elections were held in West Bengal in two phases - April 23 and 29. The counting of votes took place on May 4.
The BJP sealed a landslide victory with 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, ending the TMC's uninterrupted 15-year rule in the state.
