KOCHI: Cops have registered an FIR against a private bank employee in Kochi, Vishnu Nandakumar, for promoting religious enmity by posting a derogatory comment on Facebook against the eight-year-old who was raped and murdered in Kathua . Nandakumar was also allegedly dismissed from service after a social media uproar.

The case has been registered under Section 153 A of the IPC for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.

The man had reportedly justified the gang rape and murder of the Kathua minor on Facebook, saying, “Ivale ellam ippozhe konnathu nannayi… allenkil naale Indiaykku ethire bomb aayi vannene” (Better she was killed now itself, otherwise she could have come with a bomb against India tomorrow).

Panangad sub-inspector Rejin Thomas said that the accused is absconding. “Nandakumar and his family have been evading law ever since the social media outrage. The FIR is under a non-bailable offence and we’re trying to trace him,” Thomas said.

Nandakumar’s comment garnered widespread outrage on social media, even as he claimed that his remark was being quoted out of context. However, after a relentless campaign by internet users who tagged the bank asking it to dismiss Nandakumar, the bank responded on social media, condemning the post and stating that the man was no longer an employee.

