Two clerics have been arrested from a village in Sitapur district for allegedly spreading false rumors of incest between a brother and a sister and demanding their removal from the mosque’s loudspeaker, police said on Sunday.
“On Saturday, we received a complaint from an 18-year-old Muslim woman alleging that local clerics have asked villagers not to visit her house and ostracize her family in every possible way. She alleged that this was done after spreading false rumors in the village about her and her 32-year-old brother having a physical relationship,” said the local station officer.
“In the complaint, the woman alleged that the clerics had threatened her family as well. We registered the case on Saturday based on the complaint that the clerics have defamed the family,” said the official.
Both the clerics, in their 40s, have been booked under IPC sections 500 (defamation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
“When we questioned the clerics, they said they believed in the rumor and made the announcement from the mosque. He has apologized to the family,” the SO said.
Police said that they are questioning the clerics to find out the people behind the false rumours.
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