Kochi: Pathanamthitta police on Tuesday arrested activist Rehana Fathima, who made a bid in vain for Ayyappa darshan, for allegedly posting communally divisive statements on social media.
Around 1 pm, a police team led by Pathanamthitta circle inspector G. Sunil Kumar arrested her from the BSNL office, Palarivattom, where she was working.
The police officers summoned her outside the office and took into custody, then later took her to Pathanamthitta for further proceedings.
Earlier, the Pathanam-thitta police registered a case against Ms Fathima, who attempted to trek to Sabarimala in police gear, following a complaint lodged by P. Padmakumar, secretary, Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithi, with the Patha-namthitta district police chief on October 21.
Police said that she would be produced before the court on Wednesday after completing the procedures.
The BSNL authorities suspended Ms Fathima following the arrest. “She has been suspended with immediate effect, pending inquiry,” a senior official with the BSNL said.
On September 30, she had posted a picture on Facebook dressed as an Ayyappa devotee wearing black. The case was registered against her under section 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of IPC, following the complainants that it had hurt their religious sentiments.
On October 19, she attempted to reach the hilltop shrine but failed to enter the Sannidhanam due to protests.
After the incident, she faced severe criticism and got transferred from BSNL's Kochi Boat Jetty branch.
