One held over ‘provocative sloganeering’ in PFI rally in Kerala

PTI, May 24, 2022, 11:48 AM IST

One person was apprehended on Tuesday by the police in connection with a case relating to alleged provocative slogans raised by a minor boy during a march organized by the Popular Front of India (PFI) in coastal Alappuzha, a purported video of which had gone viral. PFI Alappuzha district secretary Mujeeb, its secretary Navas and other identifiable persons have been named in the FIR.

”As of now, we have taken one person into custody. We are questioning him. Further action will follow,” the police told PTI.

In the FIR, based on a complaint filed by Vijayakumar PK, police have included various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Kerala Police Act.

Section 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295-A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class), 505 (1) (b) (act against the public tranquility), 505 (1) (c), 505 (2), 506(criminal intimidation) of the IPC and 120 (o) of KP Act are included in the FIR.

A short video of a boy sitting on the shoulder of a person during the ”Save the Republic” rally held by the PFI in Alappuzha on May 21 and raising allegedly provocative slogans has gone viral on social media.

The provocative sloganeering by the child has drawn flak from various quarters.

DYFI, the youth wing of the ruling CPI(M) alleged that the sloganeering was part of the communal agenda of dividing secular Kerala. The PFI, in an internal note, has said such slogans were against the policy of the outfit and would look into the matter.