SIRMAUR, June 10: Himachal Pradesh police have arrested a migrant worker in Paonta Sahib for allegedly posting anti-national content on social media that officials say posed a threat to the country’s sovereignty, unity and integrity.
The accused, identified as Suleman, a native of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested on Sunday after remaining untraceable for several days. He had been residing and working in the Paonta Sahib area of Sirmaur district.
According to police, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Suleman on May 27 after a local resident filed a complaint regarding a Facebook post that criticised the Prime Minister and included his photograph, which officials say hurt local sentiments.
Sirmaur Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Yogesh Rolta confirmed the arrest and said the post appeared shortly after heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam incident. “The individual posted content that was critical of the Prime Minister and expressed anti-national views. We acted swiftly after confirming the content and arrested the accused on Sunday,” said Rolta.
The case has been filed under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), marking it as a serious offence involving national security and public sentiment.
Paonta Sahib Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Manvinder Thakur added, “We located him through our local intelligence sources. This is the first case of its kind in the district.”
Officials said that the police are closely monitoring social media activity and will take prompt action against content that could provoke unrest or threaten national unity.
