Vishu manthi ad row: Cops seize three cellphones

Kottayam: Cherthala police have seized three mobile phones used to post comments and posters on social media in connection with the controversial Vishu advertisement posted by the owner of a restaurant. Police had earlier registered a suo motu case after Shamnas, 30, one of the partners at Mehr Mandi & Grills restaurant in Cherthala, posted an advertisement on Vishu day depicting Lord Krishna having manthi, a meat-based dish. The case was registered for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. The phones were seized as part of an investigation related to this incident.District police chief M P Mohanachandran said that action will be taken against those spreading hate posts. Additionally, police registered a case against those who spread posts inciting religious discord and those who took out a march to the restaurant in Cherthala without permission.A special monitoring cell was established in the district to identify those sharing hate messages related to this incident.