The police on Sunday arrested nine students in Kerala's Thrissur district for allegedly using invectives to describe political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a crossword puzzle in a college magazine. Other politicians defamed are Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, party MP Shashi Tharoor as well as spiritual leader Mata Amrithanandamayi.
"All the arrested students have been booked under section 153 of Indian Penal Code, which is regarding provocation with intent to cause riot," said Thrissur police commissioner P Prakash.
The arrested students are from Sree Krishna College in Guruvayur and activists of Students Federation of India, the student wing of CPM. Student editor Vibin Raj, sub-editor P K Shihab, editorial members V A Ashiq, U S Sajil, Lenin Vishnu, Sahil, Girish, Alwin K Benny, K S Sanoop and N P Sajib were arrested for using objectionable language against Modi in the journal. They were later released on bail.
Police said the remaining three accused, chief editor and college principal D Jayaprasad, staff editor Santhosh and advisory board member P G Subindas, would be arrested soon. The college magazine titled 'Name' had used Modi's nickname 'NaMo' as a crossword clue with the purported solution 'NAyeente MOn' (s.. of a b....).
However, P Sanoop, who was part of the editorial team of the magazine, told TOI that the content "was not intended to malign any person". Principal Jayaprasad said the controversial crossword was finalized without his and the staff editor's consent. "The content in question was not published with my knowledge or permission," he said.
The police commissioner seemed to corroborate this. "The complaints were lodged by ABVP and KSU. Evidence is clear against the accused students but at this point we don't have clinching evidence against the principal. More investigation is needed to ascertain whether the principal was involved."
The college magazine controversy is the second incident of its kind. Last Tuesday, Thrissur police booked five students and the editor of 'Litsokniga', the college magazine of Government Polytechnic College, Kunnamkulam, for including Modi's name along with the likes of Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden and forest brigand Veerappan in a special feature on history's hall of shame.
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