A man was arrested here today for allegedly posting abusive messages on social media against a 21-year old college student, whose story of selling fish to raise money for her studies and to take care of her family went viral, police said.
Viswanathan was arrested for launching an abusive propaganda on social media platforms against Hanan, they said.
He has been charged under various sections of the IT Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC), police said.
Police said they got more details from one Nooruddin Sheikh from Wayanad, who was questioned yesterday and later let off, about the people who subjected Hanan to vicious trolling on social media.
More arrests will be made in the case, they said.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had directed the police to initiate action against those who targeted the woman in the virtual space after a Malayalam daily reported about her struggles.
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He had told reporters here yesterday that those engaged in cyber space should be cautious and try to understand things.
Facts should be presented before the people, he had said.
CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had also condemned the cyber bullying of Hanan and said those who had attacked her should be punished.
A final year B Sc (Chemistry) student at a private college in Thodupuzha, Hanan's touching story was widely shared on social media by several people, including film artistes and politicians.
But a section of netizens expressed doubt on her story and termed it as "fake", after which she was viciously trolled.