A magnifying glass is posed over a monitor displaying a Facebook page.—AP Photo
Analysts and the media Tuesday widely condemned the Maharashtra state government for what they said were attempts to curb freedom of expression.  —AP Photo

NEW DELHI: Indian officials have arrested one young woman for a Facebook post criticising the shutdown of Mumbai for the funeral of a powerful Hindu fundamentalist politician. Another young woman was arrested simply for hitting the ''like'' button next to the comment. 

Analysts and the media Tuesday widely condemned the Maharashtra state government for what they said were attempts to curb freedom of expression.

Shops and transportation across Mumbai, India's financial capital, closed Sunday for the death of right-wing leader Bal Thackeray.

The arrests of the two women Sunday were seen as a move by police to prevent violence by Thackeray's supporters. Both women were released on bail Monday.

The women apologised, but angry supporters ransacked an orthopedic hospital run by the uncle of one of the women.

 

Opinion

Editorial

Plugging the gap
06 May, 2024

Plugging the gap

IN Pakistan, bias begins at birth for the girl child as discriminatory norms, orthodox attitudes and poverty impede...
Terrains of dread
Updated 06 May, 2024

Terrains of dread

Restored faith in the police is unachievable without political commitment and interprovincial support.
Appointment rules
06 May, 2024

Appointment rules

IT appears that, despite years of wrangling over the issue, the country’s top legal minds remain unable to decide...
Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....