Khandwa (MP), March 11 The Khandwa administration has arrested a man in jail under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) after he allegedly posted offensive content on social media to disrupt communal harmony, officials said.
Prabhakar Shinde, alias Prabhu (41), is accused of posting content on Instagram that offended the religious sentiments of the Muslim community, they said.
The NSA empowers the government to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a way that is prejudicial to the defense of India, relations with foreign powers, the security of the country, or the maintenance of public order or essential supplies.
A case has already been registered against Shinde at the Moghat Road police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint from local resident Mujahid Qureshi, officials said on Tuesday.
Khandwa District Magistrate Rishabh Gupta issued an order to maintain public order and detain Shinde in the district jail under the NSA, they said.
"As per the administration's orders, Shinde has been sent to jail under provisions of the NSA," Moghat Road police station in-charge Dhiresh Dharwal said.
A group of people staged a violent protest in front of the police station on the night of March 5, demanding the death penalty for the accused. The police had to use force against the protesters to control the situation, officials said.
A separate case has been registered against the protesters on charges of stone pelting, rioting, obstructing government work, and blocking a public road, they said.