By Jehangir Ali
Srinagar: Authorities clamped down on mobile internet services in the restive Bhaderwah area of Doda district in Jammu on Saturday (April 5) where a shutdown is being observed amid simmering communal tensions over a Hindutva leader’s ‘objectionable’ social media post, which has angered the Muslim community.
Senior superintendent of police, Doda, Sandeep Mehta said that the mobile internet was “slowed down” to prevent rumour mongering and breakdown of law and order in the aftermath of the tensions that broke out in the communally-sensitive town of Chenab valley on the evening of April 4.
“A case has been already filed in the matter. Mobile internet has been slowed down as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident,” SSP Mehta said, adding that a manhunt has been launched to nab the accused.
Restrictions were imposed on internet after Varinder Razdan who is head of Shri Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhaderwah, a saffron outfit, uploaded an ‘objectionable’ video clip – popular as Reels – on Facebook on Friday (April 4).
A source said that Razdan is a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The Wire couldn’t independently verify this claim.
Titled “72 ki jagah 36 hoorun se kaam chalalenge (I will make do with 36 virgins instead of 72)” with a ‘laughter’ emoji at the end, the Reel shows an old and frail-looking Muslim man struggling to prostrate himself during a congregational prayer inside a mosque.
Instead of bowing his head on the ground like other worshippers, the video shows the old man hunching on his knees. Islamic rituals allow a Muslim to offer prayers by merely using gestures instead of physical movement if they are incapable.
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here.
