Why a Pune student's jail time for a deleted post should scare anyone who values free speech
Earlier this month, a 19-year-old engineering student in Pune found herself at the centre of a storm. She had reposted an Instagram story from the handle Reformistan, which criticised India's role in Operation Sindoor . Within hours, she deleted the post and issued a public apology after receiving threats. But that wasn't the end of the matter; it was just the beginning.She was rusticated by her college without being given a chance to explain herself. Two days later, she was arrested and sent to Yerwada Central Prison, Pune. The charges invoked against her included offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), such as Section 196 (promoting enmity between groups), Section 197 (assertions prejudicial to national integration), and Section 299 (outraging religious feelings), among others.
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