Clarion India

HYDERABAD – An activist named Syed Abdahu Kashaf was reportedly arrested by Hyderabad cyber crime police on Thursday in connection with a video he posted of him chanting ‘Sar tan se juda’ during protests in the city against now suspended BJP MLA Raja Singh.

According to The Siasat, Kashaf was held by the police on Wednesday after serving the 41A notice under the Criminal procedure Code (CrPC) and a day later his arrest has been effected. He has also been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including, 153 A for promoting enmity between groups, 505 (2) and 504.

During the protests that broke on Monday night after the MLA posted a video on social media, Kashaf raised the slogan “Gustakh-e-Rasool ki ek hi saza, sar tan se juda” (beheading only punishment for a person who disrespects the Prophet).

Kashaf raised the slogan while leading a protest outside the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) in Hyderabad on Monday.

He shared the video clip of the protest on social media, in which he was seen raising the slogan. Kashaf, who has over 50,000 followers on Twitter, has however defended his stand.

In his defence, Kashaf said that he did not agree that he should be booked for promoting violence. “No one was hurt because of my slogan. No public or private property was damaged. No law and order situation arose. Nothing has happened like what had happened after the slogan of ‘desh ke gaddaron ko goli maro salon ko’ was raised,” he asserted.

Apart from Kashaf, a person named Rashid Khan has been booked under the aforementioned sections of the IPC. In his statement city police comissoner CV Anand has said “Those involved in hate speeches will be dealt with” adding that the police is identifying other protester.