As many as 16 youth were booked in Kerala for protesting against the killings of civilians following the death of militant commander Burhan Wani.Manorama online reported the police action followed after a group of locals and army men blamed them for engaging in “anti-national” activities.The youths were blamed for shouting slogans against the Indian army while the protesters claim that they had only recited some poems on Kashmir. The youths were taken into town police station.“What is unconstitutional about singing Kashmiri poems and song for Kashmir? We, a group of 16 peaceful protesters are taken to the district police office based on a Bhakt’s allegation that we are anti-nationals.
What is unconstitutional about singing poems? Of course, killing Kashmiris were never,” one of the protestors Jeevan wrote on Facebook.The youths were released on bail after the police charged them with Section 153 A of the IPC. According to the penal code, the section bears the charge of ‘promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony’.The youths had earlier announced on social media that they would conduct similar protests in various districts. The protest meet is scheduled to held in Kozhikode and Thrissur on Monday. (CNS)