Police Register Cases Over Social Media Posts Opposing Muslim Group’s Role In Paryaya Celebrations
Udupi: Two cases were registered by the Karkala Rural Police for objectionable Facebook posts opposing the participation of Jilla Muslim Sneha Samiti in programs related to the Paryaya celebrations of Shirooru Math in Udupi.
The Paryaya celebration of Shirooru Math, one of the 8 Mutts of Udupi, is planned for January 18.
According to the police, on January 3, a Facebook account named Sudeep Shetty Nitte allegedly posted a message criticizing the Muslim Friendship Committee’s participation in the Paryaya procession. The post claimed that Hindu-Muslim harmony cannot be achieved by merely distributing juice and water bottles or participating in the Hindu Paryaya procession, and that it was expressed in a way that would incite hatred between religions and disrupt social harmony. Based on this, a case was registered under Articles 196(1), 353(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. A special team has been formed to trace the accused.
In a second case, a similar post on the same day, allegedly made from a Facebook account named Sudhakar Appu Nitte, led to registration under the same sections of BNS. The accused Sudhakar (37), a resident of Nitte village in Karkala taluk of Udupi district, was detained and produced before the court and the court sentenced him to 15 days of judicial custody.
The cases come amid controversy on social media over communal harmony and the participation of the Muslim community in the upcoming Paryaya festivities at Sri Krishna Math, Udupi.
Jilla Muslim Snena Samiti had announced support for Paryaya celebrations, including distributing cold drinks to the public during purapravesha (Swamiji’s ceremonial entry into Udupi) on January 9.
The committee had also announced that it would make a hore kanike (ceremonial offering) on January 13 and participate in the parade by playing the daf drum. He also announced that around 10,000 drinking water bottles will be distributed on the day of Paryaya Mahotsava.
Following these statements, the objections of many Hindu organizations caused harsh reactions on social media.
The police stated that they closely monitor social media platforms to prevent the spread of content that may disrupt social harmony and warned that strict sanctions will be applied against those who violate the law.
