The arrested girl, Khadija Sheikh, is a second-year student at a private engineering college in Pune
PUNE — A teenage girl studying engineering was arrested here on Friday for allegedly sharing an Instagram story containing screenshots of tweets by Pakistani nationals, including posts referencing “Pakistan Zindabad” and “Hindutva extremism.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 5) Rajkumar Shinde said the accused, 19-year-old Khadija Sheikh, is a resident of Kondhwa, a prominent locality in the southwest of this Maharashtra city. She is a second-year student at a private engineering college. The girl student was taken into custody after authorities registered a case against her under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
“She has been booked under Sections 152, 196, 197, 299, 352, and 353 of the BNS. Further investigation is underway,” Shinde said.
Although the police have not disclosed the precise intent behind her social media post, officials indicated that the content could have contributed to unrest or disrupted public order, particularly given the heightened tensions following the cross-border Indo-Pak violence. Sheikh’s Instagram account has since been deleted as authorities continue their probe.
Meanwhile, a high alert has been sounded in Pune, with security being heightened at several key places in the city, including Pune Airport, the National Defence Academy (NDA), and Pune Air Force Station, among others. Safety measures have also been taken at places that witness large crowds, such as the Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati temple, Sarasbaug Ganpati temple, and Swargate bus depot.
“Pune is on orange alert, which means there is a high probability of a serious security threat or disaster, but it is not yet critical. The measures taken during such an alert include heightened security, advising the public to remain vigilant, and preparing for an emergency response,” Ankush Chavhan, Public Relations Officer at the Southern Division of the Ministry of Defence in Pune, was quoted by The Free Press Journal as saying.
