Accused include businessman and activist; FIRs filed across multiple districts
Ahmedabad, May 12 – Gujarat Police have registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against 14 individuals for allegedly uploading "anti-national" and "morale-breaking" content on social media in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, an offensive launched by the Indian armed forces against terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).According to an official statement issued Monday, the accused include a businessman and the convener of the Sardar Patel Sanman Sankalp Andolan Samiti. The police stated that the social media posts in question had the potential to demoralize the armed forces and incite division among citizens.
FIRs Across 13 Districts
The 14 FIRs were spread across Gujarat, with two cases each registered in Kheda and Kutch districts, and one each in Jamnagar, Junagadh, Valsad, Banaskantha, Anand, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Patan, and Panchmahal.The state's Director General of Police, Vikas Sahai, had previously directed all units to monitor social media closely for any anti-national, misleading, or morale-breaking content. The directive included orders for swift legal action, which is now being enforced through these FIRs.
Arrests in Anand and Surat
In Anand, police arrested Mithilesh Amin, who is also the convener of the Sardar Patel Sanman Sankalp Andolan Samiti. He is accused of spreading "false, misleading and anti-national propaganda" against the Indian Army. His Facebook post indirectly questioned the government's failure to reclaim PoK while making a reference to Karamsad, the hometown of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.Amin has been booked under sections 196(1)(a) and 197(1)(d) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for promoting enmity and publishing misleading content that threatens national security and unity.
In Surat, businessman Dipen Parmar (40) was arrested on Sunday for allegedly sharing a video related to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, suggesting that the attack was premeditated and that terrorist leaders reside within India.
Operation Sindoor and Aftermath
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces on the night of May 6-7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The operation targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and PoK, eliminating over 100 terrorists. Multiple attempts by Pakistan to strike Indian military bases were thwarted through counter-attacks.On May 11, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced a mutual agreement between India and Pakistan to immediately cease all military actions on land, air, and sea.