Court orders Hindu girl to distribute Quran over communal post
On July 12, a student, identified as Richa Bharti, was arrested in Ranchi for posting content on Facebook, which allegedly had communal overtones. On Monday, she was granted bail by a local court on condition that she will have to distribute five copies of Quran to different organizations. However, the case took a twist when Richa said she doesn't want to distribute them.
Richa asked questions about hate-mongering TikTok video, landed in trouble
Reportedly, Richa posted her opinion on a TikTok video related to ghastly mob lynching of Tabrez Ansari. In the hate-mongering video (which has been taken down), five men identified as Faisal Shaikh, Hasnain Khan, Faiz Baloch, Adnan Shaikh, and Sadhan Faroqui, claimed Ansari's children shouldn't be "blamed" if they become "terrorists". Raising objection at this, Richa purportedly asked why members of one community "sought revenge".
Thereafter, Richa was arrested, Hindu organizations protested on streets
After Richa shared her thoughts, a case was registered against her at Pithoria police station, on the basis of the complaint of Mansur Khalifa, member of Sadar Anjuman Committee. Subsequently, she was sent to jail, prompting several Hindu organizations to come on streets. Locals staged a protest outside the station on Saturday and were placated only when rural SP assured she would be released.
Court gave bail to Richa but with a condition
At the end of her hearing, judicial magistrate Manish Kumar Singh told Richa, she can go home but has to distribute copies of holy book Quran. While she has to give one copy to Sadar Anjuman Committee, she has to donate four copies to government-owned educational institutions. She was also directed to furnish two sureties of Rs. 7,000 each, her lawyer Ramparvesh Singh revealed.
Richa has 15 days to complete the exercise
"Court has given conditional bail stating that the girl will gift one copy to Anjuman Islamia and take a receipt. She would distribute four texts of the Quran to various libraries through the local police station. She has to submit the receipts within 15 days," Singh added.
But, Richa is in no mood to follow court's order
However, the court's peculiar order has miffed Richa who doesn't want to follow it. In an interaction with Zee News, she said she didn't realize her post would ruffle so many feathers. "I didn't think it would become such a big deal. I had posted something and I never realized that Muslims from my own mohalla would get me sent to jail," she said.
Further, Richa asked why similar punishments aren't given to Muslims
"Why don't Kashmiri Pandits feel the need for revenge? I will not distribute Qurans. Tomorrow they will say, accept Islam. Has a Muslim ever been asked to do Ramayana paath? Are Muslims ever asked to read Hanuman Chalisa?" a defiant Richa said.
