MUMBAI: Police arrested editor of an Urdu newspaper for reprinting a controversial cartoon from French magazine Charlie Hebdo, police said on Thursday.

Shirin Dalvi, the editor of the Mumbai edition of daily ‘Avadhnama’, was arrested in the town of Mumbra in Thane district, close to India’s financial capital. She was later granted bail.

The editor was arrested under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which bans malicious and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

“She was arrested by us, produced in the court and granted bail. We are investigating the matter,” S.M. Mundhe, senior police inspector in Mumbra, said.

The Indian Express said several readers approached police in Mumbai and Thane after the newspaper reprinted the Charlie Hebdo cover image, which was published after gunmen stormed the magazine’s offices in Paris on January 7 and killed 12 people.

Mr Mundhe did not confirm details of the Charlie Hebdo cover in question and reporters were unable to reach the newspaper’s staff for comments. ‘Avadhnama’ has several editions across India.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2015

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