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January 27, 2008

By Staff Reporter

Mumbai (Maharashtra): A daily newspaper called 'Courier Mail' published from Australia had shown Andrew Symonds, an Australian cricketer in the form of Lord Hanuman. As the deity is worshipped by thousands of Hindus, such picture has hurt their religious sentiments. Shri. Satish Sonar, a devout Hindu had lodged a complaint in this regard. Shri. Sanjay Bhalerao, a police officer from Cyber Crime Brach of Mumbai called up Shri. Sonar and informed him that the objectionable picture has been withdrawn from the website. HJS has also started online protest drive on its website against the 'Courier Mail'.
 
Shri. Sonar had lodged a written complaint with Pantnagar police station in Ghatkopar on 12th January 2008. It was mentioned in the said complaint, "Many newspapers have published news about Australian daily newspaper 'Courier Mail' showing picture of cricketer Andrew Symonds in the form of Lord Hanuman thus hurting religious sentiments of thousands of Hindus. The insulting picture can be seen on the website of 'Daily Courier Mail' given below-  http://www.news.com.au/commom/imagedata/0,,5831443,00.jpg and case should be filed against the editor of the newspaper with such dishonorable mentality, besides, imposing a ban on the website of the daily newspaper in India."

Shri. Sanjay Bhalerao from Cyber Crime Branch contacted Shri. Sonar and informed him that the picture was not found on the website and the newspaper must have withdrawn the picture. The police can not, therefore, take any action in this case. He also informed Shri. Sonar that since the newspaper is published from another country, Indian police have no right to take any action against it. Shri. Sonar told him that the police could at least register protest with the Austraian Embassy but Shri. Bhalerao informed that the police have no such rights. He suggested Shri. Sonar to contact local MLAs or MPs and take up the case through them. Shri. Sonar told him that had the MLAs and MPs been so vigilant, there was no need for people to take up the issue. Since the elected representatives are indifferent towards Dharma, such situation arises.

Shri. Bhalerao first asked Shri. Sonar whether he was a member of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS); to which Shri. Sonar replied that anyone can become a member of HJS and he had lodged a complaint to protest against the assaults on Hindu Dharma.

Also See

> Australian Cricketer Symonds depicted as Lord Hanuman