Two Cases Registered in Udupi and Karkala Over Alleged Communal Provocation on Social Media
Udupi: Police registered two separate cases at the Udupi Town Police Station and Karkala Town Police Station in connection with alleged social media posts said to have hurt religious sentiments and promoted communal disharmony. Authorities initiated legal action and commenced investigations in both matters.
In the first case, filed at the Udupi Town Police Station, police said an allegedly morphed image of the idol of Lord Parashurama was created by superimposing the face of Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar and circulated on social media. According to the police, the post was intended to disturb communal harmony and public peace.
The objectionable content was allegedly shared through a Facebook account named Guru P Udyavara. Complainant Sumanth Shettigar of Udupi stated that he came across the post on Facebook around 10 a.m. on July 3 and subsequently filed a complaint with the police. Based on the complaint, Udupi Town Police registered a case and launched an investigation.
In the second case, registered under the jurisdiction of the Karkala Town Police Station, police alleged that around 12:30 a.m. on July 1, a Facebook account named TROLL JOLIGE posted an AI-generated image of Congress leader Uday Kumar Shetty Muniyal along with a comment that allegedly targeted a particular community indirectly.
According to the complaint, the post intended to incite hatred, create enmity, and trigger communal tension among different religious communities, thereby disturbing public peace. Based on the complaint, Karkala Town Police registered a case and started an investigation.
Police said legal action will be taken against those found responsible in both incidents. They also issued a warning to the public that strict action will be initiated against anyone using social media platforms to spread communal hatred, promote enmity, or circulate provocative content aimed at creating unrest in society.