Indian professor arrested over social media post on military operation

An associate professor at Ashoka University, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, has been detained following a complaint lodged by a youth leader from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Mahmudabad was taken into custody for a social media post related to news reports on a military operation against Pakistan, which occurred more than a week after both countries agreed to a ceasefire. He faces charges under various sections of the criminal code, including acts prejudicial to communal harmony and insulting religious beliefs. The arrest took place in New Delhi, following a complaint by a BJP youth wing leader in Haryana. Mahmudabad’s statement on the military operation and its coverage had sparked controversy, leading to his summons by the Haryana State Commission for Women. Despite defending his remarks as misunderstood, the professor’s comments have drawn support from professors and activists nationwide. The incident occurred amid a truce between India and Pakistan, reached after a series of cross-border missile and drone attacks resulting in casualties on both sides.