In view of the stone-pelting incidents in Amravati and some other parts of Maharashtra during protests and counter-protests over the alleged atrocities against minority communities in Tripura, the Pune and Nagpur administrations on Sunday imposed section 144 of the CrPC in their districts.
The order, issued by Pune Collector Rajesh Deshmukh, prohibits assembly of five or more people and spreading of messages and posts on social media platforms that could create communal rifts among groups.
"It will be in force from the midnight of November 14 till November 20. As per the order, spreading messages etc through social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Whatsapp, which could create a communal rift in the society, is prohibited. Holding a meeting or assembly of five or more people, putting up hoardings and posters that could create communal tension are prohibited," an official said.
Violators will be prosecuted under section 188 of IPC.
The prohibitory order issued by Nagpur Joint Commissioner of Police Aswati Dorje said: "It will be in force from the midnight of November 14 till further orders. As per the order, spreading messages etc through social media platforms, which could create a communal rift in the society, is prohibited. Holding a meeting or assembly of five or more people, putting up hoardings and posters that could create communal tension are prohibited."
On Saturday, a curfew was clamped in Amravati city in east Maharashtra for four days and Internet services were shut down after a mob hurled stones at shops during a shut-down organised by local BJP workers in protest against the rallies organised by Muslim organisations the day before to condemn the recent violence against minority communities in Tripura.
On Friday, stone-pelting was reported during rallies taken out by Muslim organisations in Amravati, Nanded, Malegaon (in Nashik district), Washim and Yavatmal.