Arrest warrant against Christ picture publisher

An arrest warrant has been issued against the publisher who published school text-books carrying an objectionable picture of Jesus Christ.

"We have obtained an arrest warrant against the publisher from chief judicial magistrate court here. A police team will soon leave for New Delhi to arrest and interrogate him," DSP Vivek Syiem told PTI.

"A case under Section 295 (A) of the IPC has been registered against Skyline Publication for hurting religious sentiments. The offence is non-bailable," he said.

The publisher will be arrested for the offence under 295(A) of the IPC which is 'deliberate and malicious act intended to hurt the religious feeling of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs', the DSP said.

Over 120 books have been seized by the police from a convent school and a distributor, sources said. 

Authorities of St Joseph Girls' Higher Secondary School here, where the cursive writing book was supplied among the students of Class I to IV, had filed an FIR against the publisher after the objectionable picture of Christ came to notice.

The cursive writing book meant for Class I is a spelling tutor, where 'Idol' is used for 'I'. Against this word, a picture of Jesus Christ holding a cigarette and a beer can appeared.

The picture was also printed in cursive writing books of Class II, III and IV.