RAIPUR: The anti-smoking billboards aimed to create mass awareness by the State government department reportedly hurt the sentiments of a community leading to a furore in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh, about 100 km from Raipur.
The slogan on the hoardings, issued by the Samaj Kalyan Vibhag (Social Welfare Department) placed at prominent public places in the city as part of the general awareness campaign against smokers carried the “objectionable” remarks with reference to a particular community.
The offended community blocked the route of the National Highway for several hours, demanding an FIR to be registered. They called for a strong action against the responsible officials of the department
The district administration struggled to pacify the agitating people and following the community's resentment the controversial hoardings were immediately removed.
“The police have registered an FIR against the unknown staffers of the government department. We have informed the directorate of the concerned department in Raipur. The investigation is on and the guilty will be booked”, Mahasamund superintendent of police Neha Champawat said.
An FIR has been lodged under the section 295A of the IPC for malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feeling by insulting the belief.
Despite repeated attempts the deputy director of the social welfare department in Mahasamund Ramji Sinha could not be reached for his comments.