Madhya Pradesh police books J&K activist for disturbing communal harmony

BHOPAL: A self-styled social activist, who has been crusading for justice in the Kathua gangrape-murder case, was booked for disturbing communal harmony by posting a video on Facebook.

Jammu-based Waqar H Bhatti Bhatti, who was at Girnar Lodge in Gwalior recently, had shot the video outside the Gwalior railway station and posted it on July 8. In the video, Bhatti is seen daring RSS leaders to meet him as he is in Gwalior for the next three days.

Bhatti was charged promoting enmity between different groups (under Section 153A of IPC) in the FIR lodged at the Padav police station of Gwalior district on Wednesday.

“We're investigating the case and a team is being sent to Jammu also for further probing the case. The case was registered on the complaint of a Gwalior-based youth," Additional SP, Gwalior, Satyendra Singh Tomar told TNIE.

The complainant, Nitin Shukla, is said to be a right-wing leader in Gwalior.

According to the Gwalior police, Bhatti's wife is reportedly pursuing PhD from a university in the city owing to which he keeps coming there. "We're trying to get records about it from the concerned educational institution in Gwalior in connection with investigations in the case," ASP Tomar said.

On Thursday, Bhatti posted on his Facebook page a 30-minute live video, questioning why he has been booked by the Gwalior police on the complaint of Shukla. “I was attacked in Jammu on June 23 by Hindu right wingers, but no case has been lodged against by the J&K police till date despite submitting all possible evidence. The promptness in which I was booked by Gwalior police, why has the same quickness not been shown by cops in J&K in the matter pertaining to attack on me?”

Interestingly, Bhatti's Facebook page features videos of controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik, besides protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar recently (featuring Bhatti himself) for the cause of the Rohingya Muslims.