Man arrested in Agra for ‘waving Palestinian flag’ during Muharram procession

A video of the incident, lasting 33 seconds, purportedly shows Khan waving the flag during the procession even as people are seen asking him to stop.

Piyoosh Rai, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Chhatta, said, “The procession took place on Saturday night in Nagla Faturi Ghat near the Yamuna Bridge crossing which falls under the limits of Etmadullah police station in Agra.”

The ACP said that the accused appeared to be unaware of the seriousness of his actions. “He told us that he picked up the flag after seeing many flags lying around. He was arrested after some tension developed in the area,” Rai told The Indian Express.

“The accused was arrested under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 170 (arrest to prevent commission of cognisable offences) and 126 (breach of peace),” he added.

Devendra Dubey, Station House Officer (SHO), Etmadullah police station, said the accused works as a gardener. “His actions could have caused a law and order situation and could have disrupted communal harmony in the town,” the SHO said.

Seven people were arrested in Agra in July last year for allegedly raising pro-Palestine and anti-Israel slogans during a Muharram procession in the Fatehpur Sikri locality. The arrests were made after a video of the alleged incident went viral on social media platforms.