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West Bengal Youth Detained For Writing Facebook Post Against TMC Councillor

West Bengal Youth Detained For Writing Facebook Post Against TMC Councillor
INDIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Handcuff (Photo by Hemant Chawla/The India Today Group/Getty Images)
The India Today Group via Getty Images
INDIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Handcuff (Photo by Hemant Chawla/The India Today Group/Getty Images)

JALPAIGURI -- In a grim reminder of the Ambikesh Mahapatra incident, a youth of Malbazar in Jalpaiguri district was yesterday detained by the police for criticising a Trinamool Congress councillor in a Facebook post.

Rohit Pashi, the youth, was detained at Mal police station after TMC councillor Pulin Goldar complained to the police that the youth had written that he had links with criminals.

District Superintendent of Police Akash Meghariya said Pashi was detained and ordered to execute a bond under Section 107 of the CrPC as the police had information that he might create trouble.

The Section 107 of the CrPC is executed to prevent someone from committing breach of the peace or disturb public tranquillity.

The incident created a political war of words between the ruling TMC and the opposition CPI(M).

"The incident of cartoon-arrest repeats itself. #RohitPashi arrested for speaking against d autocratic CM!! Its a complete reign of terror!!!" CPI(M) state secretary Surjyakanta Mishra tweeted.

The incident of cartoon-arrest repeats itself. #RohitPashi arrested for speaking against d autocratic CM!! Its a complete reign of terror!!!

— Surjya Kanta Mishra (@SurjyaKMishra) February 6, 2016

It was, however, denied by TMC.

"Some local channels distorting news without checking facts. Deliberate distortion? No one has been arrested in Malbazar for a Facebook post," TMC national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said in a statement.

The incident brought back memories of the arrest of Jadavpur university professor Ambikesh Mahapatra who was arrested in 2012 for circulating a cartoon of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on internet.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.