Sedition charge against Bastar scribe for posting cartoon on FB

RAIPUR:A Bastar-based journalist involved in tribal rights activism was booked under the sedition law on Sunday for allegedly posting a cartoon lampooning the country’s judiciary and the government on Facebook.

A case has been registered against Kamal Shukla at the Katwali police station in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district.

“We booked Shukla under Section 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code on the basis of a complaint filed by a Rajasthan resident. The case was handed to us by the cyber cell in Raipur. An investigation is on...” Kanker superintendent of police KL Dhruv told Hindustan Times.

Shukla, the editor of Bhumkaal Samachar, is known for his stand against fake encounters in the Bastar region. He also heads the Patrakar Suraksha Kanoon Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti — that seeks to have a law protecting journalists.

Although Shukla could not be contacted, a post on his Facebook page uploaded after the registration of the case said the cartoon pertained to the controversial death of CBI judge BH Loya.

The journalist also said he was being targeted in an attempt to prevent him from “exposing” the government ahead of Chhattisgarh elections. “I will continue writing (to protect) our democracy,” he added. Over 10 journalists have been booked under various sections of the IPC in Bastar over the last few years.