“I do not know whether I will activate my account on Facebook ever again,” said Shaheen Dhada, who had been arrested for posting comments on Facebook against the shutdown in Mumbai following Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death. She denied that she got any phone call instructing her to take down the comments. “I did not get a warning call from anyone on Sunday evening asking me to delete the comments.”
Her friend Renu, who too had been arrested, for “liking” Shaheen’s comments on Facebook, said she would never go back to social networking sites. “My future has been jeopardised because of this incident. I have already deactivated my accounts on Facebook and Twitter. My parents had to put up with so much. My father had to be in the police station till 2.30 am. I had a job interview lined up next week and I am uncertain whether I will get the job,” she said.
Meanwhile, 10 persons were arrested for vandalising the hospital of orthopaedic surgeon Abdul Dhada, Shaheen’s uncle. “So far we have arrested 10 persons in connection with ransacking Abdul Dhada’s clinic. We are looking for some more people,” Thane (rural) SP Ravindra Sengaokar said. They were booked under IPC Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 451 (trespass) and 333 (endangering safety of others) and other sections. They were later released on bail. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said his party had nothing to do with the police action against Shaheen or Renu. “Millions of people mourned Balasaheb’s demise. If anyone posts any comment on social networking sites and hurts people’s sentiments, it could lead to a law and order problem. The police is taking action as per the law. The Shiv Sena has no comments,” he said.