Objectionable Facebook post triggers communal unrest in Shahdol

Soon after a communal riot erupted in Khandwa over a post on Facebook, disturbance was reported from Shahdol district on Sunday after a youth shared an objectionable post on the social networking website.

Soon after a communal riot erupted in Khandwa over a post on social networking site Facebook, disturbance was reported from Dhanpuri town in Shahdol district on Sunday night after a youth shared an objectionable post on the same social networking website.

According to reports, a youth identified as Sandeep Jain, who is a resident of Budhar town of the district, shared an objectionable picture along with a text. The post was soon distributed among his friends.

The situation became worse when a member of another community happened to see the post on Sunday afternoon. By Monday evening, enraged members of the community started a protest and reportedly gheraoed the local police station demanding action against the youth. Later, a group of people took to the streets in support of Jain.

An additional police force was sent from the district headquarters to tackle the situation. However, no major incident was reported.

According to sources, protests were also reported from two more towns of the district including Gopalpur.

Later on Monday, police registered a case against Jain and arrested him from his residence. Police said it is also being verified whether it was Jain who had distributed the copies of his post or not.

"Law and order situation is under control. We have arrested the youth. A meeting of the peace committee was also held On Monday and now the people who were protesting are satisfied," said additional superintendent of police (ASP), Shahdol, Durgesh Rathore.