An executive magistrate in Srinagar sentenced 11 men to a week in jail after they were detained by J&K Police for allegedly failing to rise for the national anthem at a June 25 function attended by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Sinha took significant note of the situation and took action against the men. The Srinagar Senior Superintendent of Police did not answer when contacted on Wednesday, and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar stated he will look into it.
On Thursday noon, Srinagar Police, in a Twitter post, said, “There is an unverified news doing round that 14 policemen/persons have been arrested/suspended for disrespecting national anthem. It is clarified that the news is completely false, rather 12 persons have been generally bound down for good behaviour under sections 107/151 of CrPC.”
The men were produced on July 3 before the Executive Magistrate (Tehsildar Khanyar, Srinagar) who sent them to the Srinagar Central Jail under preventive custody.
“Today on 03/07/2023 police station Nishat presented the above-named accused in person before the court of undersigned in connection with a case registered under sec 107/151 CrPC against them in police station Nishat Srinagar. The proceeding of the case has been initiated as per docket placed on record and there is every likelihood that they may commit breach of peace and disturb public tranquillity if released,” the order of the Executive Magistrate stated.
About the incident
On June 25, the J-K Police organised a cyclothon ‘Pedal for Peace’ in collaboration with the Cycle Association. Around 2,250 cyclists participated in the race and L-G Sinha attended the award ceremony and felicitated the winners.
Police sources said when the national anthem was being sung in the L-G’s presence, some people in the audience did not stand up.
Police identified some of the men and detained them. Residents of the Valley, they are in the age group 21 to 54.