ICT Act: 3 get 10-year jail in Pabna for hurting religious sentiment through fake Facebook account

Rajshahi Cyber Tribunal yesterday sentenced three people to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in a case filed under section 57 of the ICT Act for hurting religious sentiment in Pabna's Ataikula in 2013 through a fake Facebook account.

The convicts are Aminul Ehsan, Zahirul Islam and Khokon, said public prosecutor of the court, Ismat Ara said.

Judge of the tribunal Ziaur Rahman passed the order yesterday afternoon in presence of two accused Amirul and Zahirul. Khokon remains absconding.

The tribunal also fined the three convicts Tk one lakh, in default of which they will have to serve three more months in jail.

According to the prosecution, accused Khokon created a fake Facebook account in the name of a Hindu man, Rajib Saha, of the area and made a post maligning Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) from the computer shop of accused Zahurul on November 2, 2013.

Another accused Amirul printed the Facebook post and circulated them among Muslim villagers.

Later, local Muslims attacked Rajib's house and set it on fire.

They also attacked houses of other Hindu people in the locality, and vandalised their temples.

A case was filed under section 57 of the ICT Act (2006) in connection with the incident, accusing 10 persons.

Amirul and Zahirul gave gave confessional statement before a magistrate under section 164 during the trial.

Examining the documents and 15 witnesses, the court handed down the verdict yesterday and acquitted seven other accused in the case.