Bhopal, June 20 (newsin.asia): Indian police in Madhya Pradesh arrested 15 Muslim youth and charged them with “sedition” because they allegedly shouted anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans during Sunday’s Champions Trophy cricket final at the Oval in the UK.
The 15 youngsters, were arrested in Burhanpur district and produced before a court.
Additional Director General (ADG) Indore Ajay Sharma told India Today that a resident of village Mohad filed a complaint with the Shahpur police station that some youngsters were celebrating the victory of Pakistan and were also raising pro-Pakistan slogans.
The complainant said that crackers were being burst close to homes of people belonging to the majority Hindu community.
Acting on the complaint, police detained and booked the youngsters under section 124A (sedition) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
The police said that they were apprehensive that a communal situation could erupt in the area after the match owing to the youngsters’ alleged cheering for the Pakistani.
Police believed that tempers were particularly running high as the outcome of the match was unfavorable for the Indian team.
Similar complaints had been received from the village, which is located close to the Maharashtra border, in the past too during India-Pakistan cricket encounters.
A top police official claimed that the charges were invoked not for supporting a particular side but because pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans were raised.
