Police on Sunday arrested a 21-year-old girl for questioning the total shutdown in the city for Bal Thackeray's funeral on her Facebook account. Another girl who 'liked' the comment was also arrested.
The duo were booked under Section 295 (a) of the IPC (for hurting religious sentiments ) and Section 64 (a) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Though the girl withdrew her comment and apologised, a mob of some 2,000 Shiv Sena workers attacked and ransacked her uncle's orthopaedic clinic at Palghar, north of Mumbai.
The 21-year-old arrested for her Facebook post was among many who aired opinions on social networking sites. ‘Her comment said people like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a 'bandh' (city shutdown) for that,’ Police Inspector Uttam Sonawane said.
In recent months, the country has shown sensitivity to criticism of its politicians, sparking criticism in turn from freedom of speech campaigners.
Press Council of India chief Markandey Katju on Monday demanded ‘immediate’ action against police personnel for reportedly arresting a woman in Mumbai protesting the shutdown in the city on Bal Thackeray's demise on social networking site Facebook.
In an e-mail to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, he warned of ‘legal consequences’ if the CM failed to act. ‘I will deem it that you as CM are unable to run the state in a democratic manner as envisaged by the Constitution to which you have taken oath and then legal consequences will follow,’ Katju said.
He demanded that the Chavan immediately order suspension, arrest, chargesheeting and criminal prosecution of the police personnel responsible for arresting the women allegedly on the ground of hurting sentiments.
‘To my mind it is absurd to say that protesting against the bandh hurts religious sentiments. Under Article 19 of our Constitution, freedom of speech is guaranteed fundamental right. We are living in a democracy, not a fascist dictatorship.
‘In fact, this arrest itself appears to be a criminal act since under sections 341 and 342, it is a crime to wrongfully arrest or wrongfully confine someone who has committed no crime,’ he said.
The duo were booked under Section 295 (a) of the IPC (for hurting religious sentiments ) and Section 64 (a) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Though the girl withdrew her comment and apologised, a mob of some 2,000 Shiv Sena workers attacked and ransacked her uncle's orthopaedic clinic at Palghar, north of Mumbai.
The 21-year-old arrested for her Facebook post was among many who aired opinions on social networking sites. ‘Her comment said people like Thackeray are born and die daily and one should not observe a 'bandh' (city shutdown) for that,’ Police Inspector Uttam Sonawane said.
In recent months, the country has shown sensitivity to criticism of its politicians, sparking criticism in turn from freedom of speech campaigners.
Press Council of India chief Markandey Katju on Monday demanded ‘immediate’ action against police personnel for reportedly arresting a woman in Mumbai protesting the shutdown in the city on Bal Thackeray's demise on social networking site Facebook.
In an e-mail to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, he warned of ‘legal consequences’ if the CM failed to act. ‘I will deem it that you as CM are unable to run the state in a democratic manner as envisaged by the Constitution to which you have taken oath and then legal consequences will follow,’ Katju said.
He demanded that the Chavan immediately order suspension, arrest, chargesheeting and criminal prosecution of the police personnel responsible for arresting the women allegedly on the ground of hurting sentiments.
‘To my mind it is absurd to say that protesting against the bandh hurts religious sentiments. Under Article 19 of our Constitution, freedom of speech is guaranteed fundamental right. We are living in a democracy, not a fascist dictatorship.
‘In fact, this arrest itself appears to be a criminal act since under sections 341 and 342, it is a crime to wrongfully arrest or wrongfully confine someone who has committed no crime,’ he said.