Case filed after girl ‘forced’ to join WhatsApp group, read religious posts

AGRA: In a one-of-its-kind complaint, an Agra girl has alleged that she was “forced” to join a WhatsApp group and read objectionable religious posts.

Acting on the complaint, the police have registered a case against the administrator of the group, yet to be identified, and a few other members of the group.

“The case has been registered under section 153 (for hurting religious sentiments), IPC 294 (obscene comments made to girl) and Section 67 of Information Technology Act (IT Act),” said Ajay Kumar, senior sub-inspector, Loha Mandi police station.

He said the team will seek assistance of the cyber cell to investigate the case and book the accused.

The complainant is a research scholar at Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar University of Agra. She alleged that she was made member of a group by some unknown member on April 13.

She left the group several times and kept getting added back to the group. The administrator and other members began posting objectionable religious comments. The complainant, who is from the minority community, raised objection but group members abused and threatened the girl. The aggrieved girl apprised her family about the matter, and they helped her lodge the police complaint.

“We have registered the case and action will be taken after identification of the accused,” Kumar told HT.