Image insulting Islam not uploaded on Facebook using Hindu fisherman’s phone: PBI

The image which led to the attacks on Hindus at Nasirnagar was not uploaded on Facebook from the phone used by a Hindu fisherman accused of ‘insulting Islam’, an investigation has revealed.

The image was edited on the computer used by one Jahangir Alam, a cyber cafe owner in Harinberh Bazar, according to the Police of Bureau of Investigation.

But the detectives were not sure if the same computer was used to upload it on the social media site.

Hindu fisherman Rasraj Das was arrested on Oct 29 on charges of hurting religious sentiments.

The next day, more than a hundred Hindu homes and temples were vandalised and looted following protests held over the ‘objectionable’ image.

Some more attacks were launched on Hindu households even though authorities claimed to heighten security following the first Oct 30 attack. 

The eight cases started over the attacks have led to the arrest of 104 people.

The PBI has submitted two reports on Rasraj and Jahangir to the Detective Branch (DB) in Brahmanbarhia.

The DB have handed the report on Rasraj to a court in the district but were yet to submit the one on Jahangir.

The phone and the memory card used by the 30-year-old fisherman were examined by the PBI’s cyber crime unit, who then sent a report to DB.

The report said there was no trace of that ‘objectionable’ photo on the phone or the memory card.

The other report said the image was edited on Jahangir’s computer and it was saved for some time before being removed.

There have been allegations that Jahangir printed leaflets containing the image from his shop ‘Amin Cyber Point and Studio’ before handing them out.

He reportedly admitted to it while providing a confessional statement before a judge under Section 164 of the CrPC.