BJP functionary booked in UP's Ballia for 'communal' Facebook posts

NEW DELHI: A local BJP office-bearer has been booked in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district for allegedly posting objectionable content on Facebook that targeted a particular religious community and hurt their sentiments, police said on Friday.An FIR was lodged late Thursday night against Anil Soni, Rasra town head of BJP’s OBC Morcha, based on a complaint filed by local resident Naim Zafar and six others.The complainants alleged that Soni made derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad and used offensive language against Allah in his posts. One of the posts read, “Summer is here, drink sugarcane juice only after checking Aadhaar cards, or else…” — which was seen as a communal jibe.The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.”The posts sparked protests at Rasra’s Gandhi Park on Thursday evening, with residents demanding immediate legal action against the accused."We have registered an FIR. Necessary legal action will be taken in the matter," said Rasra police station in-charge Vipin Singh.District BJP OBC Morcha president Arjun Chauhan confirmed that Soni holds a position in the party’s local unit.