Bhatkal: Police have identified a 28-year-old youth from Uttarakoppa village in Bhatkal taluk for allegedly creating a fake Facebook account in another person's name and using it to circulate posts aimed at inciting communal tension. As part of the investigation, police have seized the accused's mobile phone.

The accused has been identified as Ishwar Krishna Naik (28), a resident of Uttarakoppa, who works as a sculptor. According to the police, he allegedly created a fake Facebook account in the name of Rohit Shetty and posted provocative messages targeting members of another community by referring to the ongoing Murinakatte controversy in Bhatkal.

The fake account came to the notice of the police during routine monitoring of social media platforms. Using cyber forensic techniques, investigators traced the origin of the account to Uttarakoppa and subsequently identified the accused. His mobile phone has been seized for forensic examination.

Police said digital evidence recovered from the device is being examined. A notice will be issued directing the accused to appear for questioning, they said, adding that further investigation is underway.