Khandwa: Tense situation after social media post hurts sentiments

A social media post allegedly hurting religious sentiments led to a tense situation in Khandwa, MP. A crowd gathered at a police station, prompting police to file an FIR, detain the accused, and conduct a flag march to restore normalcy.

A crowd gathered at the Moghat police station in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district after a social media post allegedly hurt religious sentiments, creating a tense situation which was later brought under control by the police, an official said.

Police File FIR, Detain Accused

According to the police, the matter escalated into a law and order situation, prompting police deployment from nearby police stations and a flag march in the area to normalise the situation. Complainant Mujahiddin Qureshi filed the FIR after the post came to light and acting on the complaint, police registered a case under section 199 of Bharatiya Nyay Sahita (BNS) and immediately rounded up the accused.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mahendra Taranekar said, "A post shared on social media was hurting religious sentiments, due to which some people gathered here to register an FIR. Complainant Mujahiddin Qureshi filed the FIR. A case was registered under section 199 of BNS and the accused was rounded up immediately without any delay."

Tension Escalates Despite Arrest

The officer said that after the FIR was registered, some individuals continued to gather at the police station premises and raised various demands, which created a tense situation. "Following this, some people mischievously gathered on the premises of the police station and put up absurd demands. The crowd including elders and sensible persons were making various demands citing religious sentiments hurt, leading to a law and order issue. Thereafter, three station in-charges and the City Superintendent of Police were deployed to control the situation," the officer said.

Flag March Restores Normalcy

ASP Taranekar also urged the public not to react to such posts on social media and instead inform the local police. "Later on, the police conducted a flag march to normalise the situation in the area and everything is under control. The public is urged to refrain from reacting to such posts on social media and to inform the station in charge instead," he said.

The situation in the area is now peaceful and under control, he added. (ANI)

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