Nine jailed for objectionable post

Bhopal: Around 20 persons were rounded up by state police for violating section 144 and posting inflammatory messages on the social media. Nine of them, including eight in Seoni district and a 27-year-old in Gwalior, were sent to judicial remand, while others were granted bail. Internet services remained paralysed in four districts, including Khandwa, Panna, Tikamgarh and Chhatarpur.

Minor incidents were reported from Panna district over permission for religious processions, but situation was brought under control immediately. “The situation is peaceful across the state with no report of any violence,” said a senior officer in the state’s intelligence unit.

In Gwalior, a timely input by control room led to the arrest of Dinesh Singh Chouhan for posting inflammatory posts on Whatsapp. “The control room had specific inputs that Dinesh was posting objectionable contents regarding the Ayodhya verdict and the posts had gone viral on the social media. Police team swung into action and tracked him down near Shabd Pratap Ashram and arrested him,” said Bohdapur TI, Y S Tomar.

Police recovered a mobile phone from his possession in which it was found that he had allegedly posted provocative messages in a group named ‘Hindu Sena’. Officers took a screenshot of his post and confiscated his phone. Chouhan was arrested under various sections and produced before local court from where he was sent to judicial remand.

Cyber cells units worked round the clock to monitor messages on Twitter and Facebook. Sleuths of the district intelligence units were also on vigil. The situation remained under control even as mobilisation of additional companies was intensified immediately after the verdict was pronounced on Saturday. Moreover, a guard of central jail was suspended for for inaction against a group of people who were celebrating the verdict near Saraswati Sishu Mandir in Gwalior. Manoj Sahu was charged for violation of civil services rules and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against him.