The after-effects of the publication of the newspaper edited by Ms Shirin Dalvi, Editor of Avadhnama, containing the offending cartoon, is a point to ponder for every citizen of this country. The lady in question has gone underground because of the threats she has received and the fear that they have struck in her.

The arrest of two newspaper vendors for delivering the Urdu daily, containing the Charlie Hebdo cartoons on its front page, their subsequent production in court and their being granted bail by the Metropolitan Magistrates Court — which questioned the Investigating Officer, “How can you pick up someone and put them in jail?” is a reminder to the police machinery against exercising their power of arrest wantonly and without any application of mind. The powers of arrest, though freely available to the police machinery ought to be exercised with utmost care and caution and a balance has to be struck between the powers of arrest and Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which protects personal liberty of an Indian Citizen.