Kerala blogger arrested for ‘disrespecting’ National Anthem in Facebook post

Kozhikode North Assistant commissioner of police, Prithviraj, said that the blogger has been charged under Section 124 (A) of IPC (sedition) and will be soon be handed over to Karunagapalli Police.

Malayalam writer and theatre activist Kamal C Chavara alias Kamalsy Prana was on Sunday detained for by Nadakavu police for allegedly insulting the national anthem in his Facebook post. Chavara was taken into custody from Kozhikode, The Indian Express reported on Sunday. Some sources said that case was lodged against him following a complaint by BJP’s youth wing Yuva Morcha, IE reported. “Karunagapali Police got a phone call over the facebook post of Kamal. We checked it and charged a case against him,” Karunagapally Sub Inspector Rajesh said. As per some sources, the blogger had posted an excerpt from his novel “Smashanangalude Notepustakam” which was published in 2015. Kamal is said to be approaching the court seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

Also Read: 20 arrests in 48 hours for failing to stand during National Anthem

So far, 20 arrests have been made in the country for failing to stand for nation anthem, weeks after the Supreme Court mandated it in a ruling. Twelve of the 20 people were arrested from international film festival in Kerala for failing to observe the apex court’s order. Not only they were arrested, but were reportedly beaten up by some people after they allegedly refuse to stand for the anthem. “They were formally arrested and later released on bail,” Sparjan Kumar, Thiruvananthapuram’s police chief, was quoted as saying by AFP.

It was reported that these people also suffered harassment by a group of 20 men during the interval for allegedly refusing to stand. They were reportedly charged under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and face up to three years in jail if found guilty.