A case has come to light from Karnataka where a woman has been arrested by the police for posting ‘objectionable WhatsApp status’. The woman is alleged to have written something about Pakistan on WhatsApp, which could incite hatred between the two groups. However, the woman was released on bail the very next day. The woman was arrested after a police complaint was lodged against her.
Actually, this incident is from Bagalkot district of Karnataka. A 25-year-old woman from here has been arrested by the police on Monday. The woman’s name is Kuthma Shaikh, she hails from Mudhol and is a student of a nearby madrasa. The woman was arrested for allegedly posting a WhatsApp status. The woman is alleged to have wished Pakistan on its Republic Day.
A police officer has said that the woman wrote in Urdu, ‘Allah Har Mulk Mein Ittihad, Aman, Sukoon, Ata Farma Maula’ on her WhatsApp status on Pakistan’s Republic Day on March 23. Its translation is that may Allah grant peace, unity and harmony to every nation. It was told that a social worker named Arun Kumar Bhajantri had lodged a complaint at the Mudhol police station.
After this, the woman was arrested on March 24 and was granted bail the next day. In her police report, Bhajantri claimed that the woman’s intention was to incite caste tensions. He had demanded from the police that the woman should be charged with sedition. At present, the police said in their statement that the woman was taken into custody to maintain peace and order.
The police officer said that what the woman wrote could be interpreted as a celebration of Pakistan’s Republic Day. Had we not acted, there could have been protests and riots could have erupted. However, Bhimanagouda Paragonda, a lawyer and RTI activist on the matter, said, “Police should exercise discretion and judgment before making arrests.” The charges leveled against the woman will not stand in court, such allegations seem like harassing innocent people.