Eight arrested for hailing rowdies on social media

The Siddapura police on Saturday registered an FIR against eight people for allegedly hailing anti-social elements as heroes on social media.

In an effort to contain the growing craze and followers of such elements on social media, the police tracked down the accused based on the addresses of the Facebook accounts and opened a history-sheet against them, said Lokesh B Jagalasar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Division.

There were many students in the fan page, who have been summoned, questioned, and released after getting an undertaking from them, a police officer said. The drive to identify those promoting and hailing rowdies on social media would be monitored and strict action will be taken against them, he warned.

The accused were promoting and hailing two rowdy gangs, including Wilson Garden Nagar and rowdy Mahesh Siddapura, venting ire and promoting enmity on social media.

It may be recalled that the City Police Commissioner has launched a special drive to contain rowdism and anti-social elements in the city.

The police intensified night patrolling, surprise checks, and naka bandi (check points) across the city and directed the jurisdictional police to take strict action against any violations.