UP ATS Arrests Maulana For Sharing Posts Inciting Revenge For Babri Masjid Demolition

Lucknow, January 4: The Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police late on Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old man from Jhansi for "provocative social media posts" related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The posts allegedly provoked revenge for the demolition of the Babri mosque and promoted enmity between religious groups.

The accused has done the course of Hafiz from a Jhansi madrasa

Director General (DG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar, said that the accused was identified as Zibran Makrani, a resident of Mukaryana of Jhansi district. He said that the accused has done the course of Hafiz from a Jhansi madrasa.

The DG said that a post by the accused was noticed by the ATS while scanning social media platforms during intensified cyber patrolling ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla at Ram temple on January 22.

ATS recovered several objectionable posts and screenshots shared by him

He said that the ATS later recovered several objectionable posts and screenshots shared by him with other people, instigating them to take revenge for the demolition of Babri mosque.

The officer further said that an FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153-A for promoting enmity between two groups on the grounds of religion and 505(2) for statements promoting hatred and enmity between two classes has been registered against him at ATS police station in Lucknow in the matter.

ATS is keeping round-the-clock vigil on posts made on social media platforms

The ATS is keeping a round-the-clock vigil on posts made on social media platforms and other electronic channels. He said several posts on social media platforms were found objectionable during the round-the-clock cyber patrolling and were removed as well as the users’ accounts were blocked, while in some cases, users removed the posts after being warned.