Indian police arrest editor over Charlie Hebdo reprint

Shirin Dalvi, editor of the Mumbai edition of the daily Avadhnama newspaper, was arrested by police in the town of Mumbra in Thane district, close to the financial capital.

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, told AFP.

The Indian Express said several readers approached police in Mumbai and Thane after Urdu paper Avadhnama 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.

Mundhe did not confirm details of the Charlie Hebdo cover in question and AFP was unable to reach staff who could comment at Avadhnama, which has several editions across India.

Last week, tens of thousands across Muslim-majority Indian Kashmir, Afghanistan and Pakistan took to the streets to protest against Charlie Hebdo’s cartoon portrayal of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).

Images of the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) are considered blasphemous by many Muslims and the magazine’s publishing of the sketches has triggered protests in Muslim countries around the world. -AFP