Hyderabad: Three persons including an
author of a book, which allegedly contained anti-Islamic
content, were arrested in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh,
police said on Friday.
The book, 'Crescent over the World' a compilation of
articles published by M Laxmaiah alias Krantikar, a civil
rights activist, contained "objectionable" material against
Muslims, Khammam district Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar
told agency over phone.
The SP said police had seized 800 books in raids at
different places in Khammam district since yesterday.
Another police official said, "Krantikar was arrested
last night and two others-Innaiah and Subbarao-distributors
of the book were arrested today and all of them were sent to
judicial remand."
The trio were charged under Section 153A (Prompting
enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race,
place of birth, language, etc) and 295A (Deliberate and
malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any
class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of IPC.
Meanwhile, some Islamic organisations demanded action
against the author and all those who funded him for bringing
out the two volumes of the book.
Further investigations were underway.
PTI
First Published: Friday, February 26, 2010, 21:35