Milind Deora slams Mumbai police for 'acting in haste' in Facebook post case

NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora today slammed the Mumbai police for "acting in haste" by arresting two young girls for their Facebook post questioning shutdown of the city for Bal Thackeray's funeral and called for checks to prevent misuse of the IT Act.

"Question isn't about amending 66A of the IT (Information Technology) Act, it's about preventing misuse by the police, who clearly acted in haste and applied wrong sections of IPC & IT Act," Deora wrote on social networking Website Twitter.

Mumbai Police had on November 18 arrested 21-year-old Shaheen Dhada under section 66A of IT Act and section 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) for posting a message on Facebook questioning the shutdown in the city for Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray's funeral.

Dhada's friend Renu Shrinivas was also arrested for 'liking' the post.

Immediately after the comment, a mob of nearly 40 Shiv Sainiks allegedly barged into Dhada's uncle's orthopaedic hospital at Palghar in Maharashtra and vandalised the place on Sunday.

Deora demanded the arrest of elements that were involved in attack on the hospital.

"Also, vandals of Dhada Hospital must be booked! Hope Maharashtra Government takes immediate corrective action," Deora tweeted.