Abhijit Iyer-Mitra arrested for hurting sentiments of Odias: Police

The Odisha Police on Saturday said defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra was not arrested for his Twitter post on 'Rasogolla', but for hurting the sentiments of the Odia people.

The police statement came after a section of media reported that Abhijit was arrested for his comments on Rasogolla on the micro-blogging site.

The police termed such reports as absolutely false and mischievous.

"His frivolous comment on Rasogolla is not at all a ground for legal action against him," said the police in a press statement.

"The fact remains that Iyer-Mitra has been arrested on FIRs registered on his derogatory, mischievous and objectionable comments on art and culture of Odisha, Lord Jagannath and Odia community as a whole. He has also made objectionable comments hurting sentiments of different religious communities," police said.

It said that the remarks have promoted enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and are prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.

The defamatory comments by Iyer-Mitra have hurt the religious feelings of people who believe in Lord Jagannath. These comments are also detrimental and prejudicial to the peaceful and harmonious communal environment of the state, it said.

"He also further incited the public by posting objectionable word 'Sala' for the entire Odia community," said the police.

--IANS

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