Mangaluru: Youth arrested for inflammatory Instagram post threatening communal harmony

Mangaluru: Youth arrested for inflammatory Instagram post threatening communal harmony

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 4, 2025: In a firm crackdown on provocative social media content, Mangaluru City Police arrested a 25-year-old man for allegedly posting an inflammatory message on Instagram, which authorities say could have incited communal unrest and disturbed public peace.

The accused, Ashik S Kotian, a resident of Irvathur village in Karkala, Udupi district, allegedly posted a status that read: “We don’t want any kind of answers. Blood must answer blood, life must answer life.”

The post was flagged by cyber surveillance teams under the Mangaluru City Commissionerate, which had recently set up special squads to monitor and curb the spread of incendiary content on social media platforms.

Legal Action Initiated

Following the post, a case was registered at Mangaluru South Police Station under Crime No. 85/2025. Kotian has been charged under Sections 196, 353(2), and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023—the country’s updated criminal code.

The investigation has since been handed over to the Central Crime Station (CCS). Police confirmed that Kotian was traced and detained on the morning of July 3, interrogated, and produced before a magistrate the same day.

Zero Tolerance for Online Hate, Say Police

Issuing a stern warning, the Mangaluru City Police stated that strong legal action will be taken against individuals who misuse social media to spread hatred, incite violence, or threaten communal harmony. Authorities urged the public to stay vigilant and report any such content immediately.

Police officials reiterated their ongoing commitment to identifying digital threats and ensuring peace and order in the region.