Ludhiana Police Arrests Social Media User Arshdeep Over Provocative Posts

Ludhiana, Punjab – Ludhiana Police have arrested an individual identified as Arshdeep for allegedly sharing provocative and communal content on social media platform X. Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma stated that Arshdeep's posts, under the handle @the_lama_singh, were deemed capable of spreading discord and disharmony within society. The arrest follows preliminary monitoring by the cyber crime police station, which flagged the objectionable content targeting various religious groups.

According to Commissioner Sharma, Arshdeep, active on X since February 2019 with a follower count of 13,000, was found to be posting inflammatory material. Authorities are investigating whether these online activities were part of a larger plan to destabilize Punjab, potentially at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI. The police emphasized the need for restraint and moderation in public discourse to prevent agitation and partisanship.

The arrest has drawn public reaction, with some individuals defending Arshdeep's actions. Social media user "Sidharth" posted on X, stating:

"I Stand With #Arshdeep No amount of police harassment and intimidation will STOP him from speaking against terrorists. @AAPPunjab @PunjabPoliceInd @LudhianaRPolice @LudhianaRange is going on?"

This tweet suggests a perception that Arshdeep's actions were aimed at speaking against terrorists and that the police action constitutes harassment. However, police statements indicate the charges relate to the nature of the content as provocative and communal, rather than anti-terror speech. The Ludhiana Police continue their investigation into the full scope of the social media user's activities and any potential external links.