Facebook Removes Srijato’s Poem ‘Curse’, Case Filed Against Him

Member of a Hindutva group lodged a police complaint against poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay for allegedly hurting religious sentiments in a Facebook post. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Srijato Bandyopadhyay)

Facebook has removed a controversial poem of poet Srijato Bandyopadhyay after a Siliguri student lodged a criminal case against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of the Hindus.

The removal of 12-line poem 'Curse,' posted on Facebook on 19 March, the day Yogi Adityanath was sworn-in as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, follows the poet complaining to the police of having received threats over the poem.

I have seen today that the Facebook authorities have removed the poem.

Srijato Bandyopadhyay

He said many comments, which were on his wall after the poem was posted, were of "extremely poor taste".

The student, a member of the group Hindu Samhati, had in his complaint said that Srijato's poem, particularly its last two lines, hurt Hindus' religious sentiments.

The police had registered the case on 22 March and the charge, if proved, carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and/or fine.

Early this week on Thursday, the poet went to the Kolkata police headquarters and met senior police officials over the alleged objectionable posts on his Facebook wall in reaction to the poem posted by him.

Also Reads: Bengali Poet’s FB Post on Adityanath Leads to a Police Complaint

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on the same evening told a TV news channel that "There will be no problem (for the poet) and I will take full care.”

I have asked the police to conduct an investigation into the matter and submit the report to me. Do not worry.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee