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The video was shot more than a year ago but doing rounds on social media currently

 NEW DELHI — The Gujarat Police has booked and arrested a Muslim man for a video which he recorded and released on social media more than a year back.

In the purported video he is seen hailing Muhammad Bin Qasim, an Arab commander who is known as first Muslim ruler to have conquered parts of what is present day Pakistan, and Mahmud of Ghazni, a ruler of Turkic origin who is accused of plundering Somnath Temple situated in the present day Gujarat.

According to reports, Irshad Rashid was nabbed from Panipat in Haryana by a team of cops from Gir in Somnath district of Gujarat on Wednesday. Police are said to have used surveillance technology to trace Rashid.

The case against Rashid was filed in Prabhas Patan police station following a complaint by Somnath Trust’s general manager Vijaysinh Chavda. The police have invoked sections 153 (A) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race; and 295 (A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings).

In the video which was shot more than a year ago but doing rounds on social media currently, Rashid recalls how Mahmood Ghaznavi and Bin Qasim conquered the Somnath temple. Rashid urges Muslims to read the history which is “glorious”. He goes on to say that Muslims should feel proud of the acts of their ancestors. “Even if today they are called plunderers the history shows they have been just rulers and promoted Islam.”

Rashid had filmed the selfie video standing on a beach 1.5 kilometres from the temple.