Facebook outrage: Shaheen’s account hacked, 10 held for vandalism (Roundup)

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) My Facebook account has been hacked, said Shaheen Dadha Tuesday two days after she and her friend were arrested for questioning on the networking site the Mumbai shutdown following Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death, even as 10 people were held for vandalising her uncle’s clinic.

Also, as Shaheen and Renu’s arrest Sunday night by Thane rural police was hotly discussed in colleges and schools, offices, networking sites and Twitter, a lawyer filed a complaint before the Maharashtra State Commission for Women alleging human rights violation.

Speaking to IANS, Shaheen said she did not deserve to be treated like this. “I have apologised because I want peace and harmony. But this has been a nightmare. The treatment meted out to us was unfair,” she said.

She also said that somebody from California had hacked her Facebook account.

“I have registered a police complaint, mentioning that I will not be responsible for whatever is posted through the fake account,” said Shaheen, who was released on bail after being booked for “hurting religious sentiments”.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leaders remained evasive on the alleged attack on the Thane−based clinic of Shaheen’s uncle.

“Bala saheb is our God. If one hears anything against their God, a strong reaction is bound to come. We don’t know if those who ransacked the girl’s uncle’s hospital were Shiv Sainiks, but please understand that there are thousands of Bala saheb supporters outside of Shiv Sena too,” party official Anil Parab told IANS.

Thane rural police also arrested 10 rioters who ransacked the hospital of Shaheen’s uncle. However, they were released on a bail bond of Rs.7,500 each after being presented in the local court.

Superintendent of Police Ravindra Shengaonkar confirmed the developments. However, he refused to state whether the rioters were from the Shiv Sena.

Lawyer Abha Singh, who approached the women’s commission over the issue, said: “The manner in which the girls were arrested clearly indicates that there has been gross violation of human rights as well as Supreme Court directives for affecting arrests.”

The message posted by Shaheen and ‘liked’ by her friend Renu Sunday read as follows: “With all respect, every day, thousands of people die, but still the world moves on… Today, Mumbai shuts down due to fear, not due to respect.”

Facebook is also sporting anti−Shaheen pages, one of which is titled “Don’t Support Shaheen Dadha”.

The page vehemently appeals to everyone that Shaheen should not be supported and that what she did was wrong.

But there was wide support for the two women too.

“Police officers who arrested the two girls in Mumbai shud be immediately dismissed. That’s minimum that the govt ought to do,” tweeted activist and politician Arvind Kejriwal.

“Now you can’t ask questions about why there should be a bandh? Did anyone notify the police that this is actually a democracy?” Mumbai−based author Jerry Pinto wrote on his Facebook wall.

Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora said: “Question isn’t about amending Section 66A of the IT Act, it’s about preventing misuse by the police, who clearly acted in haste and applied wrong sections of IPC and IT Act.”

The Communist Party of India−Marxist asked Maharashtra’s Congress−Nationalist Congress Party government to “take immediate action and stop pandering to the whims and fancies of the Shiv Sena”.

IANS 2012-11-20 22:48:05