MNS demands more cyber crime cells

Following in the Shiv Sena’s footsteps, now the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is going after “offensive” posts on social networking sites, seeking that the police set up cyber crime cells in each police station for people to lodge complaints on these issues.

While the Shiv Sena called for a day-long bandh in Palghar on Wednesday over the suspension of two policemen who arrested two girls for criticising the shutdown in Mumbai on the day of Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s funeral on Facebook, the MNS has red-flagged offensive comments by a Palghar youth about party chief Raj and Maharashtrians on the same site.

“No one must cross the limits of the freedom of expression. This freedom must not be misused,” said MNS general secretary and spokesperson Shirish Parkar.

MNS Thane (rural) president Kundan Sankhe said they had objected to comments on Facebook by 18-year-old Sunil Vishwakarma about their party chief and Maharashtrians at large and had reported him to the police. “The posts were vulgar and also made abusive references to women,” he said, adding that while they did not want to take the law into their hands, “limits are necessary on the freedom of expression.”

“It’s our demand that as the use of Facebook increases, the police must set up cyber crime cells in all police stations to enable people to complain there,” said Sankhe, adding that they had sought strict action against the accused.