Retd cop held for ‘hurting religious sentiments’ in MP

BHOPAL: A retired police officer was on Tuesday arrested for allegedly vandalising an office set up for holding the fund collection drive for the construction of the Ram temple, and hurting religious sentiments of the people in Indore, police said.

Shrikant Sharma, a retired deputy commandant of Special Armed Force, was arrested under sections 294 (Obscene acts and songs), 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings), 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) and 452 (Housewas trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint by RSS worker Sunil Kumar Hedu and three others, Rajendra Soni, town inspector of Banganga police station, said.

“Sharma was raising objection over the setting up of an office by the RSS for holding the fund collection drive in his neighborhood. Late on Monday, he barged inside the premises and threatened the workers to shut down the office immediately. He vandalised the premises and tore pamphlets with photos of Lord Ram. He also threatened to shoot the office bearers,” he said.