Srinagar, Sep 7: J&K Police has registered a case against unidentified people after the national emblem was allegedly defaced at the revered Dargah Hazratbal, officials said.
They said the case was registered at Police Station Nigeen on Friday evening, hours after a group of worshippers defaced the emblem sculpted on the inaugural plaque in the premises of the Hazratbal shrine, the most revered shrine for Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir, which houses the relic of Prophet Mohammad.
“A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway,” said an official privy to the development. “Some people have been questioned during the investigation.”
The official said the FIR has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 300 (disturbing a lawful religious assembly), Section 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), Section 191(2) (punishment for rioting), Section 324(4) (mischief causing property damage between Rs 20,000 and Rs 1 lakh), Section 196 (promoting enmity between groups and disturbing harmony), and Section 61(2) (criminal conspiracy, with punishment based on severity of the intended offence). Police also invoked provisions of the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act for defacing the Ashoka Emblem, a symbol of India’s sovereignty.
J&K Police has officially issued no statement on the issue so far.
The protestors raised slogans saying their religious sentiments had been hurt. Reacting to the protests, Waqf vice chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi called the protestors terrorists and called for their arrest under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The defacement has triggered a political storm in Kashmir, with parties demanding an apology from Waqf Board chairperson and BJP leader Darakhshan Andrabi and calling for legal action against her for allegedly “hurting religious sentiments”.
Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah yesterday said the national emblem should not have been used at a religious place, as it hurt public sentiments.
