In a strong move to maintain peace, Raebareli police have arrested three men, including one accused of making derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad
RAEBARELI – Three persons have been arrested from different localities in this Uttar Pradesh city for posting inflammatory and derogatory content on social media. One of the accused, identified as Sachin Tiwari, was held for making objectionable comments against Prophet Muhammad) which had earlier gone viral and caused public outrage.
According to police officials, cases have been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the IT Act, and all three accused have been sent to judicial custody.
The arrest of Sachin Tiwari, who had been absconding for several weeks, came after an extensive investigation by the city police. Authorities said that Tiwari not only made offensive remarks against the Prophet Muhammad but also targeted the Raebareli police through abusive social media posts.
A senior police officer said, “We had been tracing the activities of the accused for some time. He repeatedly shared posts that insulted Prophet Muhammad and attempted to provoke unrest. Such acts will not be tolerated.”
In a parallel action, the Aunchahar police arrested Aman Singh, son of Gaya Prasad, a resident of Kamalpur, for posting inflammatory content and assaulting a person over election rivalry.
Meanwhile, in Salon, police arrested Petu Yadav alias Sunil Yadav, a resident of Tuali, for posting an inappropriate photo of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media.
Officials said the three arrests were part of a coordinated operation against those using social media to spread hate or defame individuals for political or communal motives.
Following the arrests, Raebareli police issued an appeal to the public urging people to maintain social harmony and avoid posting or forwarding offensive content.
The police statement read: “Social media is a platform for communication, not for spreading hatred or abuse. Any person who shares inflammatory or derogatory material will face strict legal action. Monitoring is ongoing, and no one will be spared if found guilty.”
Earlier, the Raebareli police had also arrested Mahesh Maurya and Vinoo Damoria for making caste-based hate remarks online, reinforcing the district’s zero-tolerance policy toward communal or caste-based provocation.
Members of the Muslim community have welcomed the action, saying it sends a clear message against hate speech. Mohammad Salman, a local resident, said, “Insulting any Prophet or religion is not freedom of speech. The law must act firmly against those who try to hurt religious sentiments.”
Another resident, Shabana Parveen, added, “These actions are necessary to protect communal harmony. No one should be allowed to create hatred through social media.”
The Raebareli police have strengthened surveillance across platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, to identify accounts spreading provocative or misleading content.
A police official stated, “Technology gives everyone a voice, but some are misusing it to spread hate. We are monitoring such activities round the clock to prevent any disturbance to public peace.”
The recent arrests underline a growing effort by authorities to counter the misuse of social media in fuelling communal tension and hate propaganda. By taking swift action, police hope to deter others from engaging in similar offences.
As one senior officer remarked, “We are committed to ensuring peace for all communities. Those who try to divide people in the name of religion or politics will face the consequences of law.”
