Mangaluru: In a significant action against online hate speech, Mangaluru city police have arrested a youth who was allegedly posting provocative and communal content on social media while residing abroad. The accused has been identified as Abdul Khader Nehad (27), a native of Panemangaluru in Bantwal taluk.
According to the police, Abdul Khader was living in Saudi Arabia and was allegedly using social media platforms, including Instagram, to post objectionable and inflammatory content targeting people of other religions, with the intention of disturbing communal harmony in the coastal region.
He was operating an Instagram account under the handle sdpi_2025, through which he reportedly shared posts that were abusive, derogatory and capable of inciting communal tension.
Police said that on October 11, Abdul Khader posted highly objectionable content related to other faiths. Taking serious note of the post, Bajpe police registered a suo motu case and initiated an investigation. During the probe, it emerged that the posts were being uploaded from abroad and were traced back to Abdul Khader, who was then residing in Saudi Arabia.
Senior police officials said the accused had deliberately used social media as a tool to provoke communal sentiments in Mangaluru and surrounding areas, despite being physically outside the country. “The intention was clearly to disturb public peace and social harmony,” a police officer said.
Following confirmation of his identity and location, Mangaluru police issued a lookout notice against Abdul Khader. Acting on this alert, the police tracked his travel movements. On December 14, when Abdul Khader arrived in India from Saudi Arabia and landed at the Calicut International Airport in Kerala, police personnel detained him immediately and took him into custody.
He was later handed over to the Mangaluru police for further investigation. Officials said legal proceedings have been initiated under relevant sections of the law dealing with promoting enmity between communities and misuse of social media platforms.
The swift action by Mangaluru police has been widely appreciated, particularly in the backdrop of rising concerns over the misuse of social media to spread hatred and provoke unrest. Police authorities reiterated that strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to disturb communal harmony, irrespective of whether such acts are committed from within the country or from abroad.
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