The two young women – Shaheen Dhada and Reenu Srinvasan were booked and arrested on Sunday night under Section 295A of the Indian Panel Code for an online Facebook Post protesting the complete shutdown of the city after Bal Thackeray’s death.

The police said that the two, both 21, were summoned for questioning at 10pm on Sunday, but were unable to explain why the girls were called to the police station after sunset. However, Shaheen’s family alleged that she and Reenu were taken to the police station by angry Sena supporters on Sunday evening itself, and released only around 2:45am. They were called again to the police station around 7am on Monday, her family said. Both were arrested and remanded in judicial custody, but granted bail. Interestingly, in her comment on the shutdown, Shaheen did not name Thackeray.

The two were initially booked under the Stringent IPC Section 295A (Outraging religious feelings) and Section 66A, IT Act (Offensive message through a communication device). Later, the first Section was changed to 505(2) (Creating enmity).

When asked why they changed the Sections under which Shaheen and Reenu were earlier booked, Additional Superintendent of Police Sangram Sinh Nishandar said, “The complainant in this case Palghar Shiv Sena Pramukh Bhushan Sankhe, had come fully prepared with his lawyer and on that basis we registered the FIR against the two girls under Section 295(A) of IPC and Section 66(A) of IT Act. During our investigation when we studied the case we saw that the Section 295(A) applied is not correct, so we charged the accused with 505(2) and Section 66(A) of the IT Act, and duly informed the court about it when the girls were produced in the court.”

Shaheen had never imagined, she said, that her Social networking would lead to a mob landing at her door-step threatening her and her family with dire consequences.

Sources: Times of India and Mumbai Miror

Date: 20-11-2012