Cases booked over SM posts opposing Banu Mushtaq inaugurating Dasara

Udupi: Police in Udupi district registered two separate cases against individuals who allegedly posted provocative content on social media, criticising the state govt's decision to invite Booker Award winner Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara celebrations.Police said Santosh Kulal, attached to the Social Media Monitoring Cell of Kollur police station, while monitoring Facebook on Aug 22, at 7pm, noticed a post on the account of Jagadish Udupa. The post questioned the govt's decision to invite author Banu to inaugurate the Dasara celebrations. By writing that "it was wrong to insult the great Hindu religion just to please one community", the post also warned of the consequences. Police said the message posted online was provocative and could disrupt communal harmony and incite conflict. Kollur police registered the case under Section 353(2) of the BNS.In another incident, Sundar, police sub-inspector of Karkala Rural police station, while monitoring social media platforms at 5pm on Aug 22 , came across a post on Facebook. When searching for the Facebook page ‘Sudeep Shetty Nitte,' a poster titled ‘CM announces Dasara Inauguration by Booker Prize Winner Banu Mushtaq' was found. A post on it criticised the decision, stating that "Dasara is a Hindu cultural festival with events conducted according to Hindu traditions. What is the reason for having it inaugurated by someone who does not accept or practice Sanatan Hindu culture? The anti-Hindu Congress is always at the forefront of actions that hurt Hindu sentiments."The accused posted content on the Facebook page that incites division and hostility between castes and religions, police said, adding that Karkala Rural police registered the case under Section 353(2) of the BNS.

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