Duo held for posting obscene images of Goddess Kali, PM on FB; may be tried under NSA

BHOPAL: The two people arrested from Mumbai on charges of allegedly posting offensive and obscene pictures of Hindu deity Kali and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook may have to face charges under the National Security Act (NSA) after the Bhopal district administration’s recommendation.

“The superintendent of police, Arvind Saxena, has given a green signal to impose NSA on the two accused as their crime was offensive enough to incite communal violence. The legal proceedings are under way for the imposition of NSA on them,” said Mukhtar Qureshi, town inspector, Gautam Nagar investigating the case.

Thirty one-year-old Abdul Qayyum Qureshi and 32-yearold Ali Hassan Sheikh were arrested by the police from Wadala in Mumbai, after a Gautam Nagar-resident lodged a complaint against the two at Bhopal’s Jahangirabad Police Station on May 10 for allegedly posting offensive pictures of Hindu deities and Prime Minister Modi.

The duo was arrested from Mumbai on May 19 by a special investigation team. They were presented before the court on May 20 and are since in jail.

However, not everyone is satisfied with the way the police and judicial officials have handled the incident. Civil society member Sachin Jain said the incident and the resulting crackdown on Abdul and Ali were symbolic of the intolerance prevailing in the country.