Guwahati: The Kolkata Police issued a look out notice against her suspended Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma after she failed to appear for summonses issued by at least two police stations in the city on Saturday.
FIRs were initially filed with the Narkeldanga police station and then with the Amherst Street police station within the purview of the Kolkata Police for her offensive comments on the Prophet Muhammad. The FIRs were filed on the basis of individual complaints. Sharma was the subject of at least 10 complaints lodged with various police departments within the purview of the Kolkata Police.
It’s interesting that the lookout notice was issued just one day after the Supreme Court harshly criticised Ms. Sharma, declaring that she was solely to blame for the protests that followed and that she should have apologised to the country.
A law enforcement agency issues a look out notice for a person who is wanted in connection with an investigation or who has fled, barring the person from leaving the country. The FIR against Ms. Sharma at Narkeldanga Police station was registered on June 13 and she was asked to appear before the police on June 20. She was requested to appear in front of the police on June 25 after the Amherst Street Police Station’s FIR was registered on June 23. Ms. Sharma ignored both summonses and requested an extension to her court date.
Protests were seen in several West Bengal areas, particularly the Howrah district, following the divisive statements. Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister, had asked the protesters to complain to the police rather than block highways and damage government property. Earlier this week, Ms. Banerjee hinted those police in the State will take action against the former BJP spokeswoman while raising concerns over police action against activist Teesta Setalvad and writer Mohammad Zubair.
“What made you detain Zuber? How did he act? How did Teesta behave? I won’t use the names of filthy people. People who misuse religion are not arrested! You ensure their safety. But she was called by our state. We won’t abandon her,” Ms. Banerjee had said June 29.