UP: Over 150 booked in Shahjahanpur for protest against allegedly derogatory post on Quran

The police in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur have registered a case against 150 to 200 unidentified persons following a protest outside the Sadar Bazar police station against an allegedly derogatory social media post about Prophet Muhammad and the Quran.

A 45-year-old man posted the allegedly derogatory remarks on Facebook on Friday, The Indian Express reported. He was arrested on the same day, and the post has since been deleted.

The man was booked under section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

Following his arrest, a crowd gathered outside the police station around 9 pm, shouting slogans and demanding strict action against the man.

The situation escalated when some protesters tried to enter the station and set two bikes on fire, PTI reported. The police baton-charged the protestors to force them to disperse.

A first information report has been filed against the protestors for rioting and obstructing public servants on duty, Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwiwedi said.

“We have appealed to the people not to make comments against any caste, religion or anyone on social media,” the superintendent of police said, according to PTI. “No such posts should be made that may spoil communal harmony. However, our social media monitoring team has made a list of those who have posted or forwarded the derogatory post.”
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