Haridwar Hate Speech Row: First Arrest Made, Wasim Rizvi Alias Jitendra Tyagi Nabbed By U'khand Police

Rizvi was among 10 people who were named in the FIRs lodged in connection with the case. He was formerly the head of Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board.

Uttarakhand Police have arrested Wasim Rizvi alias Jitendra Tyagi in connection with the Haridwar 'Dharm Sansad' hate speech case. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Waseem Rizvi, aka Jitendra Narayan Tyagi, is the first person to be arrested by Uttarakhand Police for allegedly making inciting remarks and hate speech against a particular community at a Dharam Sansad in Haridwar in December last year.

According to reports, Rizvi was arrested from Narsan border in Uttarakhand's Roorkee district on Thursday. 

“Uttarakhand Police have arrested Wasim Rizvi alias Jitendra Tyagi in connection with the Haridwar ‘Dharm Sansad’ hate speech case from Narsan border, Roorkee,” Swatantra Kumar, SP City Haridwar, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Rizvi was among 10 people who were named in the FIRs lodged in connection with the case. He was formerly the head of Uttar Pradesh Shia Waqf Board and has recently changed his name to Jitendra Narayan Tyagi after converting to Hinduism.

Rizvi's arrest comes days after an FIR lodged against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in connection to the hate speech row.

It has been alleged that during a Dharam Sansad event organised in Haridwar from December 17-19, Rizvi along with some other participants delivered highly provocative speeches against the Muslim community. 

When asked if more arrests are expected in the case, Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Yogendra Rawat told news agency PTI that it will depend on how the investigation progresses.

The development comes a day after Supreme Court pulled up the Uttarakhand government seeking action against those who made hate speeches. 

As per the acquisitions, an event was organised in Haridwar by Yati Narsinghanand and the other in Delhi by 'Hindu Yuva Vahini' allegedly "calling for genocide of members" of Muslim community.