Delhi riots: Assam college lecturer blames BJP, RSS in Facebook post, held

Assam police, on Friday (February 28) evening, arrested a college lecturer in Silchar after he blamed the BJP and the RSS for the recent communal violence in Delhi.

In a Facebook post earlier this week, Souradeep Sengupta, a physics teacher at Gurucharan College in Silchar, accused the BJP and RSS of trying to “recreate Godhra” in Delhi, besides making references to ‘Sanatan dharma’.

In his post, Sengupta was referring to the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi earlier this week, claiming the lives of at least 42 people and injuring hundreds of others.

“The BJP and RSS are trying to recreate Godhra in Delhi right now. People on the streets are getting their IDs checked to see if they are Muslim – if they are, they are getting beaten mercilessly. Hindu houses are being marked by saffron flags, while Muslim houses and mosques are being petrol-bombed. All while these terrorists shout Jai shree ram. Sanatam dharma my foot,” Sengupta wrote in his post.

“We elected a mass murderer twice as PM – this is what we get. Everyone who voted for BJP should know they sold the country off for a few bucks,” the post added.

However, he later deleted the post and issued an apology saying, “I apologise for any religious sentiments I may have hurt by my posts. I made some irresponsible comments about a communally sensitive issue. It was a lapse of judgment. My intention was not to insult any religion at large.”

On Friday, a section of students filed a complaint against Sengupta for allegedly making derogatory remarks against “Sanatam dharma”, calling the Prime Minister a mass murderer and trying to incite communal violence. They also said that they submitted a memorandum to the college authorities in this connection.

Sengupta, an alumnus of Delhi University, was held after an FIR under sections 295(A), 153(A) and 507 of the IPC and Section 66 of the IT Act was registered against him at the Silchar’s Sadar Police Station.

A friend of Sengupta, seeking anonymity, told The Federal that a bail petition is being moved. “A (Facebook) page in Silchar, called ‘Voice of Barack Valley’, posted screenshots of his profile and his post and this was first shared by one Karanjit Deb. From his profile, I found out he is an ABVP city secretary,” the friend said.

Related news: Delhi riots: Blame thy neighbours? A big no, say citizens

She said Sengupta’s house was attacked on Friday when his mother was alone and that they are trying to obtain CCTV footage of the incident. Police weren’t keen on pursuing this case initially and had suggested “mutual settlement” of the issue, she added.

Deb, whose profile claimed he was the Silchar city secretary of ABVP, also shared a copy of their complaint on Facebook, besides a video that showed students raising slogans against “traitors” of the country in front of the college.