Following the communal violence reported in Amravati, Nanded, Malegaon and other parts of Maharashtra following a march organised by the Raza Academy on November 12 to protest the alleged fighting in Tripura, the Pune district administration on Sunday imposed section 144 in rural areas.
There is also a ban on sending or posting messages on social media and messenger platforms which could potentially lead to communal disharmony and a law-and-order situation.
“As per the order, spreading messages through social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp, which could create a communal rift in society, is prohibited,” Deshmukh informed the media.
According to the order, social media group administrators will also be held responsible for the inflammatory messages posted on these platforms.
The order further states that those found in violation of the order will be liable to prosecution under IPC section 188 (disobeying order promulgated by public servant).
Four-day curfew imposed in Amravati, internet suspended:
A four-day curfew was imposed on Saturday in Amravati city which witnessed fresh violence during the bandh, a senior police official said.
Internet services in the city would remain suspended for the next three days so as to prevent the spread of rumours which can fuel violence, said city Commissioner of Police Arti Singh.
On Saturday morning, hundreds of people, many of them holding saffron flags in their hands and raising slogans, came out on streets in the Rajkamal Chowk area of Amravati city.
Some members of the mob hurled stones at shops in Rajkamal Chowk and other places, the police official said, adding that the police lathi-charged the protesters to bring the situation under control.