Days after Pankaj Mishra, a constable in the Central Reserve Police Force in BJP-ruled Assam, was sacked and arrested for putting out a video criticising home minister Rajnath Singh for “not advising” Prime Minister Narendra Modi “in the right direction,” a similar controversy has erupted in the neighbouring state of Bengal ruled by the Trinamool Congress.

Debajit Roy, a wholesale merchant who also runs a customer service centre for a bank, and Anupam Tarafdar – both residents of Balurghat in north Bengal – have been arrested for putting up Facebook posts construed to be a criticism of the traffic restrictions in the town during Durga Puja season.

On September 27, Roy uploaded a post in Bengali which, according to a report in The Telegraph, said, “Bikers… whatever you do, please ensure that you park your bikes in the garage by 4 pm or else you can’t return home. If you are into business… then those who have issued the diktats will arrange your meal….”