Nagaland Police arrest Mumbai-based animal rights activist Hema Choudhary

Kohima: Mumbai-based animal rights activist Hema Choudhary, a cyber crime accused for allegedly making objectionable remarks against the Northeast people, was arrested by the Nagaland Police in Mumbai on Friday.

As per reports, Choudhary was held from her home in Oshiwara in the western part of the metropolis. The reports quoted an official from the Oshiwara police station who said that Choudhary had made the remarks in a YouTube video after which an offence was registered by cyber crime police station in Nagaland under section 153A, 153B and 505 of IPC.

As per the official, the Nagaland police team informed about the case on Friday and then went to Choudhary’s residence and arrested her. “She will be taken to Nagaland for further probe,” senior inspector Dayanand Bangar was quoted as saying.

Section 153A, Section 153B and Section 505 deals with the promotion of enmity in society as a criminal offence. IPC Section 153A deals with promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. The offence is a cognizable offence and the punishment for the same may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Section 153B of the IPC deals with punishment against imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration. Section 505 of IPC deals with offense against statements conducing to public mischief, by way of publishing or circulating any statement, rumour, report or spread alarming news with intent to create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities. The offence is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.