FIR against 21 after pro-Pakistan slogans raised during Muharram procession in Bihar’s Bettiah
Youth participating in a Muharram procession in Bettiah wore green colour T-shirts, with ‘Pakistan’ and ‘PCB’ (Pakistan Cricket Board) inscribed on them, and raised pro Pakistan slogans.
The police on Monday detained three persons and lodged first information reports (FIRs) against 21 persons who reportedly raised pro-Pakistan slogans during a Muharram procession near Bettiah on Sunday.
The police had registered the case on charges of sedition and trying to breach communal harmony. The three persons detained were from Yogapatti, about 30 km north-west of Bettiah, district headquarters of West Champaran, nearly 200 km north-west of Patna.
The youth, clad in green colour T-shirts, with ‘Pakistan’ and ‘PCB’ (Pakistan Cricket Board) inscribed on them, came armed with lathis. The procession was taken out from Pipra Katharia village to Yogapatti block, a distance of 2-3 kms.
The police raided some houses and recovered T-shirts similar to those worn by Pakistani cricketers. However, the accused were absconding.
Yogapatti station house officer Vivek Kumar Jaiswal said FIRs had been lodged against 21 persons. “We have slapped sedition charges and also charged them with trying to breach communal harmony. Raids are on to nab the accused,” he added.
Nazir, Aftab, Sarfaraz, Salman, Azhar, Gauhar, Aujekh, Imran, Salaluddin and Nasseruddin were among the 21 named in the FIR.
Talking to Hindustan Times, West Champaran superintendent of police Vinay Kumar said, “We have received complaints and are trying to ascertain facts. We will take stringent legal action against the culprits if charges against them are found true.”
The SP further said, “We will proceed in the case after taking a look at the photographs and videos our photographers and videographers have taken of the procession.”
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