'Shoot Mamata Banerjee like ....': Kolkata student arrested for 'provocative' social media post

The Kolkata Police arrested a student, Kirti Sharma, on Sunday for making "provocative, offensive comments" on social media that incited violence against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This arrest comes in the wake of the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Sharma, who operated under the Instagram handle "kirtisocial," is accused of encouraging others to assassinate the Chief Minister like the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. TMC MP Sagarika Ghose took to microblogging site X, to flag the Instagram post, which read, "Shoot Mamata Banerjee like Indira Gandhi. If you can't do it, I wouldn't disappoint".

The post quickly gained attention after several Trinamool Congress supporters reported it to the authorities. Additionally, Sharma is accused of disclosing the identity and photograph of the murdered doctor, further exacerbating the situation.

The Kolkata Police issued a statement regarding the incident, stating that a complaint was received against the accused for uploading three Instagram stories related to the RG Kar Hospital incident. These posts not only disclosed the victim's identity, which is highly offensive but also contained life-threatening comments against the Chief Minister. The police stated that such comments are provocative and could incite social unrest and hatred among communities.

The Kolkata Police have intensified their crackdown on social media posts related to the rape-murder case. Summons have been issued to TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, who publicly demanded that the CBI interrogate the Kolkata Police Commissioner. Former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and two prominent doctors have also been summoned for allegedly spreading rumours and disclosing the identity of the victim.