A tribal resident of Gujarat’s Chhotaudepur district has been arrested for allegedly posting an Instagram reel that glorified senior Naxal commander Madvi Hidma, prompting police to book him for offences linked to threatening the country’s sovereignty and disturbing public harmony.

The accused, Paresh Rathwa, 31, hails from Kawant taluka. According to police officials, the reel was uploaded earlier this week and surfaced nearly a month after Hidma was killed in an encounter led by the Andhra Pradesh police. Rathwa’s post reportedly described Hidma as a “freedom fighter,” drawing immediate attention from law enforcement.

Authorities said Rathwa’s online activity had been monitored for some time by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of Chhotaudepur. While scanning social media profiles of local influencers across platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Snapchat, SOG personnel allegedly came across the controversial reel on Tuesday. Based on their report, an FIR was registered at the Kawant police station, and Rathwa was arrested on Wednesday.

Chhotaudepur District Superintendent of Police Imtiyaz Shaikh to reporters that the content of the reel had potentially serious implications. “In the video, Paresh Rathwa praised Hidma as a freedom fighter and made remarks connecting tribal communities with Naxalism. Such content challenges the sovereignty and unity of the nation and poses a threat to internal security,” Shaikh said. He added that the post appeared to be crafted in a manner that could incite discord among different groups within the country. “We have taken note of the matter, and a case has been registered by the SOG Inspector. The accused has been arrested and further procedures are underway,” he said.

Shaikh also issued a strong caution to tribal youth regarding the pressures and temptations of social-media visibility. “I want to remind young people not to get carried away by the glamour of likes and followers. Posting unverified or sensational content can lead to criminal liability. Always check the credibility of information before sharing it online, or you may find yourself in serious legal trouble,” he warned.

The FIR invokes several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including: section 152, which deals with acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity, or integrity of India, including secessionist or separatist activities carried out through speech, writing, digital content, or financial support; section 192, for deliberately giving provocation with the intent to cause rioting; section 196(1)(a), covering attempts to promote hostility or feelings of hatred or ill-will between religious, racial, linguistic, regional, or caste groups; section 196(1)(b), for acts that harm communal harmony and disturb or potentially disturb public tranquillity; section 197(1)(d), related to creating or circulating false or misleading information that endangers India’s unity, integrity, or security.

Police said investigation into the matter would continue while Rathwa remains in custody.

This article was first published on Vibes of India. Read the original article here.

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