Kerala: In a controversial incident that has sparked concern over freedom of expression and targeting of minorities, a 23-year-old migrant worker from Assam was arrested in Kerala on Monday for allegedly posting content critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders on social media, reported the Maktoob Media.
The arrested youth, identified as Eddisrh Ali, hails from Dibrugarh, Assam, and earns his living by selling fish near the Aranmula bridge in Kerala. His arrest followed a complaint lodged by Deep G. Nair, the BJP president of Aranmula constituency.
According to the complaint, Ali was allegedly sharing “anti-national” content, including derogatory images of national leaders and videos deemed pro-Pakistan. Without citing any specific post, the BJP leader also accused Ali of being a “Pakistani terrorist,” a claim that has raised eyebrows due to lack of supporting evidence.
Aranmula Police Inspector V. S. Praveen confirmed that Ali was taken into custody at around 5 PM on Monday and later officially arrested under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act. His mobile phone was seized during the arrest.
Despite repeated queries, the police declined to share details of the social media content or the FIR, stating that the document is “unpublished.”
Following his arrest, Ali was produced in court and remanded to judicial custody. His case has drawn attention amid a broader discourse on digital surveillance, profiling of migrant workers, and suppression of dissent under the guise of national security.
