The Ludhiana Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a UK-returned man for allegedly posting social media content aimed at creating discord and disharmony in Punjab. The individual has been identified as Arshdeep Singh Saini, a resident of Rupnagar district.
Details of the Alleged Offensive Posts
Saini, who goes by the handle @the_lama_singh on X and describes himself as 'Ram Das, Nationalist, Hindu Sikh', has over 13,000 followers. The police action followed a post where he commented on demographic changes in Ludhiana. In the post, he claimed that Ludhiana was witnessing rapid demographic shifts due to the settlement of 'illegal Bangladeshis' who were capturing the local business ecosystem.
Addressing a press conference, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma stated that Saini's posts were 'provocative, communal in tone, and potentially capable of spreading discord and disharmony in society'. The officer emphasized that the content was inflammatory in nature.
Police Probe into a Possible 'Tool Kit' and ISI Link
The investigation has taken a serious turn, with authorities examining whether the online activity was part of a larger conspiracy. Commissioner Sharma revealed that the police are investigating if the 'online inflammatory posts' are part of a 'tool kit to spread disharmony in Punjab at the behest of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)'.
Preliminary monitoring by the Cyber Crime Police Station indicated that the objectionable content targeted various religious communities, including Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims. The police noted that the responses and credentials of Saini's followers suggested a 'planned and deliberate strategy to infuse hatred' among different groups in the state.
Legal Action and Social Media Reaction
The Cyber Crime police station in Ludhiana registered a formal case against Arshdeep Singh Saini on November 28. The case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology (IT) Act.
Following the arrest, Saini's followers on X claimed that his final post, dated November 30, which stated 'I am being arrested, taken to Ludhiana', was deleted. Some users expressed support, with one follower, Tanveer Malik, asking 'Where is our brother?'. Another user named Adit defended Saini, claiming he was being incarcerated on false charges for highlighting issues related to illegal settlements.
The arrest underscores the ongoing vigilance by Punjab police against online content deemed threatening to social harmony, with a particular focus on potential external influences aiming to destabilize the region.
