58-Year-Old Mangaluru Man Arrested For Posting Video Praising Hamas

A 58-year-old man was arrested by the Mangaluru City police on Monday for allegedly sharing a video on social media endorsing the terrorist organization Hamas. According to the police, Zakir, a resident of Jokatte, recorded the video, in which he encouraged people to pray for Hamas, referring to them as patriots. The video, initially shared within a WhatsApp group, quickly went viral and was widely disseminated on social media platforms.

Reportedly, the accused is employed at a burial ground and is affiliated with the Vishwa Khabarastan Sangha. After the video gained widespread attention on social media, the Mangaluru North police initiated a case and arrested him on Sunday.

A complaint filed by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist urged the police to take action against Zakir. The city police have charged the accused under IPC Section 153 (a), which deals with promoting enmity between different groups based on religion.

Following his arrest, the accused was presented before the court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Additionally, sources have revealed that he faces at least seven other criminal cases filed within the city.

Notably, the Palestinian militant group Hamas recently launched a series of airstrikes in Southern Israel. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted multiple operations targeting key infrastructure associated with Hamas. This latest surge in hostilities between the two sides has resulted in a significant number of casualties in both Israel and the Gaza Strip, marking one of the most intense escalations in decades.