New Delhi: A Muslim activist Zaid Pathan, a strong critic of Madhya Pradesh’s ‘bulldozer justice’, was arrested in Khargone distric under the National Security Act (NSA).
Indore collector Manish Singh told APNlive.com that he was arrested for spreading hate among the communities, disturbing communal harmony, inciting religious sentiments, and posting objectionable posts on social media platforms.
The charges against Pathan have been filed at Banganga police station in Indore and Khargone police station.
However, The Wire couldn’t independently verify the posts for which charges have been filed against the activist.
Pathan, who is also known to be a community leader, had spoken against the bulldozer drives carried out by the local authorities in Madhya Pradesh.
After violence was reported during Ram Navami processions in Khargone, the local administration started razing shops and buildings, most of them allegedly owned by financially disadvantaged Muslim families. As many as 80 people were arrested.
In fact, according to a fact-finding team, comprising representatives of eight political parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party government and district administration was directly responsible for the communal violence in the region during Ram Navami, as The Wire had reported. The fact-finding team also said that the action had largely been one-sided, i.e. against the Muslims.
Pathan had told news outlets that the administration targeted Muslims, especially those who stood against the atrocities against them. He had also said that the culprits of the Ram Navami violence had registered fake FIRs. The Wire
