Maharashtra: Two held for WhatsApp message on communal clash

Mumbai: Two persons were on Tuesday arrested on charge of attempt to disrupt communal harmony for allegedly posting a message on popular mobile application WhatsApp claiming occurrence of a communal clash in suburban Malad during Ganesh festival.

The message, written Hindi and being circulated since yesterday, claimed that the clash occurred between two communities at Pathanwadi area in Malad on Sunday.

Terming the message as "totally misleading", police spokesperson and DCP Ashok Dhude said no such incident took place in the said area.

A case has been registered against five persons at Kurar police station for spreading communal hatred and for rumour mongering on social media, he said.

While two persons have been arrested, search is on for three others, the officer said.

Police have withheld the names of the accused.

They have been booked under section 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups), 295 (a) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), and 120 (b) (punishment for criminal conspiracy) of IPC, Dudhe said.

Meanwhile, police have appealed to the citizens not to believe in such rumours.