A government school teacher in Chhattisgarh's Jashpur district has been arrested and sent to jail after allegedly publishing derogatory comments targeting Hindu deities and scriptures on social media. The legal action followed a formal complaint lodged by a local organization leader, which prompted law enforcement officers to track down the educator and present him before a judicial magistrate.
Controversial Facebook Post Triggers Community Outrage
The incident involves 52-year-old Hemant Kumar Bedi, a teacher stationed at a middle school located in Kudmura within the Bagicha block. According to official details, Bedi uploaded a post on his Facebook profile containing controversial statements regarding ancient Indian sages, religious texts, and deities. In his message, he advocated burning representations of deities rather than the traditional effigy of Ravana during Dussehra celebrations.
As the statement circulated online, it generated widespread resentment among community members. On October 17, Karnail Singh, the 54-year-old district president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and resident of Charaidand, approached the Kunkuri police station to lodge an official complaint. Singh reported encountering the post on October 15 while browsing social media, emphasizing that such statements severely hurt the religious sentiments of believers and threatened social harmony in the region.
Attempted Escape during Police Visit and Evidence Seizure
Upon receiving the complaint, police officers initiated an investigation and located the accused in his native village of Bihawat, situated in the Kansabel area. A police team arrived at the village to serve a formal notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). However, upon spotting approaching law enforcement personnel, Bedi attempted to flee the scene on foot.
Officers managed to pursue and apprehend him shortly thereafter. During interrogation at the police station, Bedi admitted to authoring and sharing the contentious post. Police subsequently seized the mobile phone used to transmit the content as physical evidence. On October 17, he was formally placed under arrest, produced in court, and remanded to judicial custody while further investigation continues.
Police Command Issues Warning Against Social Media Abuse
Commenting on the development, Jashpur Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Lal Umed Singh emphasized that publishing material intended to hurt religious beliefs constitutes a punishable offense. He stated that strict legal measures will be enforced against anyone attempting to disrupt social harmony or promote enmity between communities. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution on digital platforms and refrain from sharing provocative material.
