Guwahati: A town in lower Assam witnessed massive protests after a mischief-maker misused his Muslim friend’s Facebook post to carry comments against India and Hinduism.

On June 3 evening a mob chased Ahedul Ali, a petty poultry trader in Sarbhog in Assam’s Barpeta district, accusing him of posting those offensive comments.

The post carried anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans. It also carried words against Hinduism.

Terrified Ali took shelter at a police station in the town, some 145 kilometers west of Guwahati, the state’s commercial capital.

Soon more people gathered in front of the police station to teach Ali a “lesson.” They also filled the social media demanding strict punishment for Ali. Some wanted to hang him in public. Hate speech against the Muslims flooded the media.

The mob also torched Ali’s shop.

The police refused to release Ali and began to probe the case.

On June 4 they found that the Facebook post was written by one Jyotish Nath, a Hindu, from Ali’s account.

Police immediately arrested Nath who admitted to writing the post from Ali’s Facebook account.

“Nath had opened the Facebook account for Ali a few months back. Due to their personal rivalry, Nath misused the account for revenge. We urge people not to fell prey to such elements,” said a police officer.

Barpeta Superintendent of Police Violet Baruah said that the police will take strict action.

“It’s a sensitive time when the state is going to announce the draft of NRC (National Register of Citizens). Many would try to bring disturbances by indulging in this kind of activities. We are on alert to avert any such activities. We will also keep an eye at the mob vandalism,” Baruah said.

Police claimed that Nath has no political affiliation. Nath has been slapped sections of IT Act and IPC.

Similar activities are on the rise and Assam police Pallav Bhattacharyya, ADGP of special branch, said that state police will keep a strict eye on such evil doers on social media.

Ali is now shattered at the development. “I didn’t realize such things could happen to me. I never expected someone whom I know could do such cheap things. I was scared and it will take some time to get over this trauma. I pray no one faces such situation,” Ali said.

On June 5, however, locals aided by the local unit of the Marxist party helped Ali to reopen his shop.

Tridib Nilim Dutta, a Guwahati based journalist, said portraying Muslims in a bad light has been an old practice. “Be it at Sarbhog or in any other places, there is a trend to portray Muslims as either criminals or terrorists. There have been several instances of this. Even state machinery believes in the narration as several eviction drives were carried out in some places in that line,” Dutta said.

In the recent past several rumors have been spread…. starting from throwing beef at temple premises and hoisting ISIS flags. Local media reported that at least six BJP workers were detained by police for questioning after a flag of ISIS was found atop a tree in Nalbari district a few weeks ago.

(Source: thecitizen.in)