One held, two PFI leaders booked over slogans during rally in Alappuzha

Alappuzha: The Kerala Police on Monday arrested a person over alleged provocative slogans raised by a minor during a rally of the Popular Front of India (PFI) in Alappuzha.

As per reports, the provocative slogans were raised during the outfit's rally at Alappuzha as part of its "Save the Republic'' campaign on May 21.

The person who has been held, Ansar Najeeb, hails from Kottayam's Erattupetta, and was suspected as the one who brought the child to the rally.

Alappuzha police said the case was registered based on a complaint from advocate Vijayakumar of Bharatiya Abhibhashaka Parishad.

The case was registered under various sections including IPC 153-A (indulge in wanton vilification or attacks upon the religion).

PFI Alappuzha unit president Navas Wandan and Secretary Mujeeb have also been named as the first and second accused in the case. The person who carried the minor boy on his shoulders is considered as an accused in the case.

A video of the rally, which has gone viral on social media, showed the boy, perched on the shoulders of an adult, chanting slogans against Hindus and Christians.

The State Child Rights Commission had registered a case and sought a report from the district police chief on the incident. Later the National Child Rights Commission also sought a report from DPC within seven days.

However, after the video emerged, PFI spokesperson Rauf Pattambi said the boy did not call out the slogan given by the organization and he may have called in excitement but they would cooperate with the case. He said that the case was registered to help the RSS.

Cases were filed also against other unidentified persons under eight counts. The FIR charges that the boy was made to call slogans with the intention of causing religious discord.

He further added that the slogans were not against Hindu or Christian religion but Hindutva terrorists and fascists of the RSS who had unleashed several attacks.