Police on Thursday dropped sedition charges against 15 youths who were arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Burhanpur for celebrating Pakistan's win against India in the Champions Trophy final.
They have, however, been charged with Section 153A of the IPC for disturbing communal harmony, reported The Indian Express.
It’s difficult to prove the sedition charge. Moreover, none of them has a criminal background. After initial investigation, we found Section 153-A is more appropriate instead of Section 124-A.Police to The Indian Express
Pakistan had hammered India by 180 runs to lift the Champions Trophy in London on Sunday. Tension gripped MP’s Mohad town on Sunday night after some people allegedly shouted slogans in Pakistan’s favour and celebrated its ICC win by bursting firecrackers at public places.
Security was stepped up immediately in the town to avoid any law and order problem.
The police later registered a case on a complaint by one Subhash Laxman Koli and arrested 15 persons on Tuesday, Shahpur police station in-charge Sanjay Pathak said.
There was a complaint that these accused celebrated Pakistan’s victory by bursting crackers and raising pro- Pakistan and anti-India slogans.Sanjay Pathak, SHO, MP Police
Pathak also claimed that the police booked the arrested persons, aged between 19 and 35, under the IPC sections 124-A (sedition) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). The accused were produced in a local court which rejected their bail applications and sent them to jail. They were later taken to Khandwa district jail.
In a separate incident, three youths, ostensibly also celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in the ICC finale, were arrested in Karnataka on Monday, claimed a TNM report. The boys – Riyaz, Zahair, and Abdul Samaan – were allegedly bursting crackers at a public place within the limits of Suntikoppa police station in Kodagu.
Following this so-called celebration, a group of locals led by BJP members Ramesh Chengappa and Jeevan, lodged a complaint with the Suntikoppa police on Monday, which resulted in the arrest.
A Suntikoppa inspector told TNM:
The accused do not belong to any political party, but they burst crackers and celebrated when Pakistan won in the cricket match. Some locals took objection to this and filed a complaint.
According to The Hindu, Kodagu district BJP president BB Bharatheesh claimed that they had to put an end to this “dangerous trend” of celebrating Pakistan’s victory in India.
The report also states that despite requests from senior leaders of the local Muslim community, right-wing groups refused to let go of the issue.
(With inputs from PTI)
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