The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Gujarat cleric includes cow in Eid sacrifice list, arrested
IN A “preventive measure”, a 54year-old cleric was arrested in Gujarat’s Bharuch district on Sunday for an allegedly provocative social media post that could potentially “breach communal peace” ahead of Monday’s Eidul-adha.
The Bharuch district police has booked the accused — Maulvi Abdul Rahim Rathod, who is a cleric of Daru Uloom Barkat-e-khwaja — for “promoting enmity” after his social media post describing the Islamic ritual for animal sacrifice listed the cow among other slaughter animals. The cleric was out on bail after his arrest in a 2022 case for alleged conversion of tribals in the district.
“The post put up by the cleric was instigating in natureasitexplicitlymentioned cow slaughter. We acted before a situation could arise. In fact, the cleric also put up an apology after posting the first message as he was aware that the police were coming after him,” said Bharuch Superintendent of Police Mayur Chavda.
He was arrested based on an FIR lodged by the Amod Police under IPC Sections 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups), 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, that are intended to outrage religious feelings) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) as well as the IT Act. The district police said the arrest was a “preventive measure” to avert an untoward law and order situation ahead of approaching festivals, including the Rath Yatra, which will be held in the first week of July.
While the case has been lodged at Amod police station, the cleric has been handed over to the Special operations Group (SOG) for further investigation in order to “ascertain if he was encouraged or assisted by other entities to make the post”.
Police said Rathod was booked in 2022 under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act. "The accused has a history of indulging in communally sensitive acts. Currently, he is out on bail in the case for the religious conversion of tribals as well as the atrocity act. When the social media post he made came to our notice, we acted immediately to prevent any untoward situation and lodged a case, in which I am the complainant," PSI Aswar told The Indian Express.
The district police said it has upped its vigilance on transport of cattle, especially cows meant for slaughter. It filed 58 cases in 2023-24 with 171 arrests and rescued 707 cattle that were transported for illegal slaughter.
"We are keeping a watch on cyberspace with no tolerance for any attempts that breach peace in the district...” Chavda said.