An associate professor at Delhi University’s Hindu College was arrested just days after an FIR was filed against him. Dr Ratan Lal made an ‘objectional’ social media post a few days ago regarding the discovery of a Shivling at the Gyanwapi mosque in Varanasi.
Dr Lal, who teaches history, had allegedly posted a photo of the structure and made objectional comments on it. The police have stated that he was summoned for questioning and was subsequently arrested. Sagar Singh Kalsi, DCP (North), confirmed the arrest on Friday night.
Various student groups, including the All India Student Association, stated that they were gathering to protest his arrest outside Maurice Nagar Police Station. According to the police, Dr Lal was arrested under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 295-A (promoting enmity between different religious groups) (malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings). The FIR was filed based on a “social worker’s” complaint and was filed with the Cyber Police Station late Tuesday night.
After his post went viral, Dr Lal had posted a video online wherein he could be seen that he had received several threats online and asked the police for security and help.
While speaking with The Indian Express, Dr Lal said, “I was not expecting threats and abuses for this statement. There is a long tradition of critique in Hinduism from Phule, Ravidas and Ambedkar. Here, I haven’t even critiqued it, it is just an observation. In our country, religious feelings get hurt over anything. What will people do, just put patti (bandage) on their mouths?”
References: The Indian Express
Featured image source: News Click
