Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor at Ashoka University in Haryana, has been arrested because of his posts on social media about India’s military action called Operation Sindoor. This operation targeted terrorist groups in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
A police official told the news agency PTI, “Ali Khan Mahmudabad, associate professor at a private university in Haryana, was arrested for his remarks on Operation Sindoor.”
Ashoka University said in a statement, “We have learned that Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad was taken into police custody today. We are trying to understand the details of the case. The university will fully cooperate with the police and local authorities.”
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The arrest happened after the Haryana State Commission for Women took notice of his comments. The commission said his remarks hurt the reputation of women officers in the Indian armed forces and could cause communal tension.
Mahmudabad responded to the police summons saying his social media posts were not against women. He claimed that his comments were misunderstood and that the women’s commission had no right to summon him.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), he said, “The screenshots in the notice show my words were misunderstood. The Women’s Commission is important, but their summons don’t explain how my post harms women’s rights or laws.”
He also said he had praised Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, the women officers who spoke at the press briefing during Operation Sindoor, as examples of India’s diversity.
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“I even praised some right-wing supporters of Colonel Qureshi and asked them to show the same support to Indian Muslims who face unfair treatment daily. My comments were about protecting the lives of all citizens and soldiers. There is nothing in my comments that can be called against women,” he added.
About Operation Sindoor:
On May 7, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor to attack terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This was in response to a terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which killed 22 people, mostly tourists.
During Operation Sindoor, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh held press briefings along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
What Did Mahmudabad Say?
Mahmudabad called the media briefing by women officers “optics” and “just hypocrisy.” The Haryana State Commission said this was an attempt to criticize India’s military actions unfairly.
In a Facebook post included in the commission’s notice, Mahmudabad wrote, “I’m glad right-wing commentators praised Colonel Qureshi, but maybe they should also demand protection for victims of mob violence and hate by the BJP against Indian citizens.”
