Another anti-Bal Thackeray Facebook post

In yet another case emerging from Palghar town in the district, police here have received a complaint about some “objectionable” matter relating to late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray posted on a “fake” Facebook account of a local newspaper.

Mohammed Hussain Nadi Sarwar Khan (30), editor of “Palghar Mirror”, a fortnightly newspaper in Hindi and Marathi, complained to police that a fake Facebook account had been opened in his newspaper’s name and objectionable photo and comments were posted against Thackeray.

“Last night, I was told that objectionable comments and photo were posted against Thackeray in my Palghar Mirror account on Facebook. When I saw it, I realised that my original account was not used but the hacker created another account in my newspaper’s name. At about 3.30 am, I went to the police station and gave a written complaint,” Khan told PTI.

But now, the fake account could not be seen as it appears to have been deactivated by the hacker, Hussain added.

“We have received an application mentioning about the objectionable comments and photo against Thackeray on fake Facebook account. We are inquiring into the matter,” an officer at Palghar police station said.

This is the second complaint at the police station involving “objectionable” content against Bal Thackeray.

Earlier, two girls Shaheen Dhada and Rinu Shrinivasan, both 21, were arrested after Dhada had criticised in a Facebook post the November 18 the shutdown due to Thackeray’s funeral. Shrinivasan had ‘liked’ the post. The two were later granted bail after they were remanded in 14-day judicial custody.

Though Dhada did not name Thackeray, a local Sena leader complained against the girls and police arrested the duo on November 19, sparking an outcry.

A 19-year-old boy Sunil Vishwakarma from Palghar had been detained by police on the suspicion of posting an “objectionable” Facebook comment against MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday and let off the next day after police found that a “fake account” was used by some persons in the teenager’s name.

Maharashtra government had on Tuesday suspended the two police officers, SP (Thane rural) Ravindra Sengaonkar and senior police inspector Shrikant Pingle, for arresting the girls.

A bandh was observed at Palghar town in adjoining Thane district yesterday following a call by Shiv Sena against the suspension of the two police officers.

Maharashtra Police had yesterday decided to drop charges against the two girls.

–PTI