One arrested for objectionable post targeting Muslim Sauharda Committee in Udupi

Udupi: Karkala police have arrested one person in connection with a provocative social media post related to the Udupi District Muslim Sauharda Paryaya Committee, which was formed to offer horekanike during the ongoing Shiroor Mutt Paryaya Mahotsava.

The arrested is Sudhakar (37), a resident of Ambadekallu, Nitte, in Karkala taluk. He was produced before the Karkala court, which remanded him in 15 days of judicial custody.

According to the police, Sudhakar and another suspect, Sudip Shetty, had allegedly posted objectionable content on their Facebook accounts on January 3. The posts reportedly questioned the participation of the Sauharda Committee in the Paryaya procession and made remarks that were alleged to promote hatred between religious communities and disturb public harmony.

Following the posts, the Karkala Rural Police registered a suo motu separate case under Sections 196(1), 353(2) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, citing attempts to incite enmity and disrupt communal harmony.

A special police team was formed to trace the accused, leading to the arrest of Sudhakar. The other accused, Sudip Shetty of Nitte, is currently absconding, and police have launched a search operation to apprehend him.