Chhattisgarh journalist slapped with sedition charges over Facebook post

RAIPUR: A

sedition case

has been file against a Bastar-based journalist-activist Kamal Shukla for allegedly posting on cartoon that ridiculed judiciary and the government on his Facebook account.

Kanker district police officials said a case under section 124-A of Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the charge of sedition has been registered against Shukla at Kotwali police station following a complaint filed by a resident of Rajasthan.

“The case has been referred to the cyber cell for further investigation”, police said.

Shukla has been actively involved in the agitations that took place against the alleged victimisation of journalists in Bastar. He also heads an organisation Patrakar Suraksha Kanoon Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti – which seeks a law to protect journalists in the Maoist-hit region.

The cartoon, which was uploaded on his Facebook wall, pertained to the reports regarding the mysterious death of CBI judge BH Loya, who was presiding over the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case.

Even in March 2017, an FIR was filed against Kamal Shukla and another journalist Prabhat Singh on the charges of defamation, insult to provoke breach of peace, public mischief and disturbing religious harmony for posting and sharing a message on social media and through WhatsApp about interactions of then Bastar IG SRP Kalluri and others.

Shukla, however, has been maintaining that the government and its officers were trying to implicate him in cases after he raised questions about the fake encounters taking place in Maoist-affected Bastar region.