Bengaluru: A 25-year-old woman was arrested in Karnataka for a message she posted on WhatsApp on March 23, which was Pakistan’s Republic Day.
The status message posted by Kuthma Sheikh read, “May God bless every nation with peace, unity and harmony”.
The incident took place at Mudhol in Bagalkot district.
The Indian Express quoted a police officer as saying that Sheikh was arrested to “maintain peace and law and order.”
She was released on bail on March 25.
Sheikh, a senior student at a Madrassa, was arrested after an activist by the name of Arun Kumar Bhajantri lodged a complaint stating “she was creating enmity between two communities by posting wishes on Pakistan’s Republic day”.
A case was filed under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc.) and 505 (2) (statements promoting enmity between groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Investigation is underway, police said.
