Accused Called Operation a "Terrorist Attack", Booked Under New BNS Provisions
Anand, Gujarat, May 10 – A 21-year-old engineering student from Gujarat's Anand city was arrested on Saturday for allegedly posting objectionable remarks about Operation Sindoor, a recent military strike carried out by the Indian armed forces. The student, Nihar Ahmed Ismael, had allegedly referred to the operation as a "terrorist attack" in a post on Instagram, triggering swift action by cyber crime authorities.According to a statement issued by the Anand cyber crime police, the controversial social media post was viewed as an attempt to spread false, misleading, and anti-national information. The operation, launched by India in response to the killing of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam last month, targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Inspector C P Chaudhary, who is heading the cyber crime investigation, revealed that the accused is a fourth-year engineering student from Bhuj in Kutch district and was residing in a hostel at Vallabh Vidyanagar.
The student has been charged under two provisions of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
- Section 353(1)(b): Pertaining to the creation or dissemination of false information that may incite fear among the public.
- Section 197(1)(d): Related to publishing content that undermines the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India.