Police investigating the case, tension prevails in Shravasti District
Team Clarion
LUCKNOW – A controversy has erupted in Shravasti, a district in northeastern Uttar Pradesh, after a local business leader made sacrilegious comments about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on social media, leading to widespread protests from the Muslim community. In response to the unrest, local authorities have taken decisive action.
According to reports, Abdul Latif, a resident of Ikouna town, lodged a formal complaint against Kanhaiya Kasaudhan, the head of the local traders’ association. Latif accused Kasaudhan of posting inflammatory remarks on Facebook, prompting demands for his arrest.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Praveen Kumar Yadav confirmed the registration of a case against Kasaudhan. “We have filed a case against the accused under Section 299 of the Indian Penal Code, which addresses the offence of hurting the religious sentiments of any religious community,” he stated. “Investigation is underway, and we are taking this matter seriously.”
Despite the protests, Ikouna police station in-charge Ashwini Kumar Dubey clarified that the legal provisions do not allow immediate arrest. “Some individuals protested demanding swift arrest of the accused; however, the section under which the case has been registered does not permit direct arrest,” he explained. “We will conduct a thorough investigation and take statements from both parties involved.”
Dubey noted that the police would ascertain whether Kasaudhan indeed made the alleged comments or if they originated from elsewhere. “If the accused fails to cooperate with the investigation, the arrest may become necessary,” he added.
As a precautionary measure, local authorities have beefed up security presence in Ikouna. “Currently, there is no unrest in the town, but we are monitoring the situation closely,” Dubey assured.
