Officials in western India have suspended two senior police officers for arresting two women because of their Facebook posts.

The women were detained for criticizing the shutdown of the country's financial hub for last week's funeral of right-wing politician Bal Thackeray.

One woman said on Facebook that the city of Mumbai had come to a standstill “due to fear, not due to respect,” and her friend “liked” the post. They later withdrew the comment and apologized.

Their arrest sparked outrage across India and they were released on bail a day later.

On Tuesday, Maharashtra state's Home Minister R.R. Patil told reporters that the policemen were suspended indefinitely and the magistrate who registered the case against the women had been transferred to another district.

Patil said “there was no need to take hasty action against the girls.”