Protest in arrest on FB comment on Azam Khan’s pressure

Social activists, led by Dr Nutan Thakur, today protested at Gandhi Statue, Hazratranj, Lucknow against arbitrary arrest of Class XI student for FB comment saying that this is complete State highhandedness undertaken purely on Azam Khan’s pressure. They included Devendra Dixit, Sharad Mishra, Anupam Pandey, Rohit Tripathi, Dr Praveen and others.

The activists said that this incidence has once again shown that in UP two kinds of law operate- one for the common people and one for the VIPs. They said that while Azam Khan’s buffaloes get searched on war-footing, even FIRs are not registered in crime on common men.

Dr Thakur said that this arrest shows the draconian face of State administration which has also defied the Supreme Court directions on application of section 66A of the IT Act. She said that the accused’ father has clearly stated that his son did not even know that what he did was a crime and yet the Rampur police arrested him, while every crime needs a motive and there was complete absence of any such motive in this case.

The activists said that this was among the latest examples of the powerful politicians using law to silence the freedom of expression and to satisfy their personal ego. They have demanded before the Governor, UP to immediate release of the boy and exonerating him from the artificially imposed crime.