MNS workers physically attack BJP activist over WhatsApp forward

In an incident of harassment on the grounds of WhatsApp forwards, three local Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists have been booked for allegedly intimidating and physically assaulting a BJP worker in Thane district of Maharashtra for taking offense over a Whatsapp forward, reported police on April 9.

R.M. Somavanshi, Rabodi police station's senior inspector said that going by the report filed by the BJP activist, Pradeep Rane, on Sunday, forwarded a recieved message that included MNS and the party chief Raj Thackeray. Thereafter, the MNS workers taking offence to the message recieved, physically thrashed Rane. 

The officer further told that the complaint alleged that Rane had apologised and also deleted the post from his mobile phone, however the MNS workers, supposedly made a video-recording of the incident and shared it on social media. 

On the basis of the complaint, the police registered a case against the three MNS activists under IPC sections 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace) and 500 (defamation), he said.

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However, he said that no arrest has been made so far and that a probe was underway into the incident. 

Intimidation and beating people over WhatsApp forwards have been on a rise and has even resulted in a nationwide anti-fake news campaign by the Indian police. Last year, Harssh Poddar, a senior police official rescued five people attacked by a mob in his Malegaon constituency, and he further warned families to be conscious of what they read online. 

 As far as the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls are considered, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who had announced that his party will not contest the Lok Sabha elections, but is named in the list of 'star campaigners' for the Congress-NCP coalition in Maharashtra.