Police arrests Kalain’s Jarir Ahmed Barbhuiya for sharing objectionable post on Facebook

Jarir Ahmed Barbhuiya had shared a post on a Facebook group, “Amar Apnar Priyo Sohor Agartala” which contains a cartoon featuring caricature of RSS’ Mohan Bhagwat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind and BJP President Amit Shah. The imagery depicts that all of the above mentioned, gang-raping a saree clad blindfold woman named Justice System.

Rajesh Das resident of Ashram Road Silchar spotted the offensive and objectionable post on Facebook and registered an FIR at the Silchar Police Station. Cachar Police registered a case against him under section 294, 507 IPC and 66 IT act. Today Cachar Police uploaded a post on its social media page confirming the arrest of Jarir Ahmed. The Cachar Police post read, “Today Cachar Police had arrested one Jarir Ahmed Barbuiya, S/o Md, Ismail Ail Barbhuiya of Ratanpur, Kalain in connection with Silchar PS case no. 1244/2018. The said person had uploaded obscene cartoon on Facebook of honourable President of India, Hon. Prime Minister of India and other political figures. Cachar Police thanks all the people who share unwanted link in Cachar Police inbox, and again request all the people not to share/upload any unwanted message/videos/photos on Social media.”

The news of the FIR was carried all over in local newspapers and TV channels and many questioned the charges put against him. Few even alleged the Police forces of misusing power and curtailing free speech and expression. Barak Bulletin got in touch with a renowned lawyer and he too agreed to the charges and said, “This is no free speech, this is clear case of maligning the nation, this is obscenity, I am surprised the offender is not charged of sedition.”

The objectionable cartoon that Jarir Ahmed shared is a morphed version of a toon created by controversial South African image publication company “Zapiro”. The proprietor of the organisation is a rebel and often arrested for his explicit imagery. The Cartoon was published on daily broadsheet ‘Sunday Times of South Africa’ after President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma was acquitted of a rape charge by the state judiciary. Zuma then filed a defamation case against Sunday Times and the cartoonist, Jonnathon Zapiro Shapiro. Later president Zuma withdrew all the cases…

“So what if Jarir is not the original creator of the post, it does not matter. You might land in jail for even liking a post containing such objectionable imagery. Sharing such a cartoon in the aftermath of the recent rape cases has all the potential to disturb peace and harmony,” said the lawyer.

Cachar district in recent times has witnessed a lot of communal tension and deputy commissioner S Lakshmanan in an interview mentioned that the incident would not have taken such a big shape had people not share posts on social media irresponsibly. The deputy commissioner had also mentioned about the creation of a ‘Cyber Cell’ to monitor social media activities in the district.

After this arrest people of Barak Valley will certainly think twice before mocking the government, judiciary, national flag, religion etc.

Cachar Police in its post mentioned about responsible usage of Social Media, “General public is advised never to forward or upload any obscene/vulgar photographs, videos and comments which may create enimity between any two persons etc. or communities or share the same, as such activities are liable for legal action and punishment under Indian laws. Further general public is also reminded not to prepare/create any fake accounts or prepare morph photographs even for fun and these have serious legal ramifications.”