5 held in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur for displaying Palestine flags

The arrests are the latest in a series of such actions across the county amid Israeli bombardment of the besieged Palestinian Gaza strip that has left around 41,000 people dead

Published on: Sep 18, 2024, 11:07:26 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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Five youths aged between 19 and 24 have been arrested in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur for allegedly displaying flags resembling that of Palestine, the latest in a series of such actions across the county amid Israeli bombardment of the besieged Palestinian Gaza strip.

Police said the accused told them that they displayed the flags to express solidarity with Palestinians. (HT PHOTO)

Police said that Sheikh Sameer Bkash, 20, Fidel Khan, 24, Mohammad Shoaib, 23, Sheikh Azeem, 19, and Sheikh Sameer, 22 were arrested on a complaint on Tuesday that Palestinian flags were flying over some houses in Bilaspur’s Khudiram Bose Square.

Police superintendent Puja Kumar said a team visited the spot and removed the flags from the roofs of five houses. Kumar said they have registered a case against the five under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s Section 197 (2), which relates to imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration. The five face imprisonment for up to five years if convicted.

Police said the accused told them that they displayed the flags to express solidarity with Palestinians after watching atrocities being committed against them. Kumar said the accused allegedly stitched the flags and raised them on their roofs. “Further investigation was on.”

Inspector-general (Bilaspur) Sanjeev Shukla said the accused intentionally tried to disturb peace in that area and hoisted the flags when both Hindu and Muslim communities were celebrating their festivals. “The case was registered on the intention of the accused,” he said when asked whether displaying the Palestinian flag was an offence particularly when India has historically backed the cause of Palestine.

India has reiterated its long-standing policy towards Palestine amid the continuing Israeli assault on Gaza that has left around 41,000 people dead. In February, the government told Parliament it supported a negotiated two-state solution towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestinian state within secure and recognised borders living side by side in peace with Israel while condemning the loss of civilian lives in the ongoing conflict. “We have called for restraint and de-escalation and emphasized peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” the then minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan told Parliament in February.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, in January in Uganda’s Kampala and reiterated India’s support for the two-state solution. India in July contributed $2.5 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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