Man in MP booked under NSA for hurting religious sentiment on social media

The Khandwa administration has detained a 41‑year‑old man under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) after he allegedly shared a controversial social media post that officials say sparked tensions and disrupted communal harmony.

Prabhakar Shinde, also known as Prabhu, is accused of posting content on Instagram that was seen as offensive toward a religious cleric or religious figure , hurting the sentiments of the local Muslim community, authorities said. The nature of the post drew significant attention and was widely condemned by residents.

The NSA empowers the government to detain individuals to prevent actions prejudicial to the defence of India, relationships with foreign powers, national security, or the maintenance of public order and essential supplies. A case was registered against Shinde at the Moghat Road police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint from local resident Mujahid Qureshi, officials said.

Khandwa District Magistrate Rishabh Gupta issued an order to maintain public order and detain Shinde in the district jail under the NSA. “As per the administration’s orders, Shinde has been sent to jail under provisions of the NSA,” said Dhiresh Dharwal, in‑charge of Moghat Road police station.

The incident triggered a large protest on the night of March 5, when members of the community gathered outside the Moghat Road police station demanding harsher punishment for Shinde. According to senior police officials, the crowd turned aggressive, pushing against officers and even clashing with the police station in‑charge, prompting law enforcement to use force, including lathi charges, to disperse the demonstrators.

Amid the confrontation, a young woman in the crowd was reportedly assaulted, leading to a separate police complaint and investigation, and multiple individuals were arrested. Authorities registered cases against protesters on charges including stone‑pelting, rioting, obstructing government work, and violence against public servants, with more than 20 people named in connection with the unrest.

Officials appealed to the public to refrain from spreading rumors and urged restraint, emphasizing that authorities are taking strict legal action against those inciting unrest and that cases related to both the original post and subsequent violence are under active investigation.