Karnataka cops dial Facebook to aid NRI arrested in Saudi over derogatory posts

The police in Udupi district of Karnataka have written to Facebook to ascertain details of Facebook accounts created in the name of an AC mechanic from the district who was arrested in Saudi Arabia last week.

Harish Bangera, a 32-year-old AC mechanic, was reportedly arrested on December 22 after a Facebook account in his name posted derogatory content against Mohammad Bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, and Mecca, one of the holiest sites in Islam. A video of Harish apologising to Muslims has also gone viral.

Harish, a native of Kundapur, was working with a company in Dammam. According to The Deccan Herald, Harish had left for Saudi Arabia in March 2014.

Lavanya Ballal, an office-bearer with the Mahila Congress, tweeted on Wednesday morning that the Indian embassy in Riyadh is waiting for Saudi court proceedings to take place in Harish's case.

The public information department of the Karnataka government tweeted that it had contacted the family of Harish Bangera. The family of Harish alleged he was being framed.

According to Daijiworld, a news outlet based in Mangaluru, the action against Harish may have stemmed from the recent violence in Mangaluru over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Daijiworld reported Harish “had been identified with pro-Hindu outfits when he lived in Kundapur”.

He recently made a post on the violence in Mangaluru, following which he received threats from Mangaluru and other places. Daijiworld claims he deleted his Facebook profile, but derogatory posts from another Facebook profile in his name soon emerged. The Udupi police is seeking information from Facebook on both the accounts, which are currently inactive.

Kundapur taluk BJP president Shanker Ankadakatte told Daijiworld that his party suspected the "involvement of local people" in the arrest of Harish.