'Pathaan' release: VHP alleges 'provocative' slogan raised by 'jihadi' elements during protest in Indore; case filed

Indore, Jan 25 (PTI) Amid the ongoing controversy over Shah Rukh Khan-starrer "Pathaan", the police in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city on Wednesday registered a case against unidentified persons after the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) alleged that a provocative slogan - "sar tan se juda" (beheading) - was raised during a protest by "jihadi elements" here, police said.

The development comes hours after some members of the Muslim community alleged that objectionable slogans against Prophet Mohammad were raised during a protest against "Pathaan" by right-wing activists in the premises of city-based Kastur Talkies. A first information report (FIR) was registered against an unidentified person and police later detained two persons in connection with this case.

The VHP on Wednesday night claimed that protesters raised provocative "sar tan se juda" slogan during a protest in the city's Badwali Chowki area.

VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal made this allegation while sharing the purported video of this sloganeering on Twitter.

He tagged state Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Home Minister Narottam Mishra in the tweet and wrote, "They (Chouhan and Mishra) possibly don't know that 'sar tan se juda' gang has become active in Indore today." He accused "jihadi" elements of being part of this protest.

A local VHP delegation met City Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra on Wednesday night and submitted a memorandum against this slogan allegedly raised in the Barwali Chowki area.

Mishra said a case under section 505 and other relevant provisions of India Penal Code (IPC) was registered at Sadar Bazar police station for alleged objectionable sloganeering in Barwali Chowki area.

Appropriate action will be taken against the accused in this case after identifying them, he said, adding that two people have been detained in the Kastur Cinema slogan case.

Other absconding accused have also been identified and search is on for them, he said.

On the other hand, people from the Muslim community protested in large numbers in Chandan Nagar, Chhatripura and other minority-dominated areas along with Badwali Chowki.

Protesters alleged that objectionable slogans against the Prophet were raised during a protest against "Pathaan" by right-wing activists in Kastur Talkies premises.

Mishra said that based on the purported video of sloganeering in Kastur Talkies' premises, a case was registered under IPC sections 505 and 295-A against an unidentified person at Chhatripura Police Station on the complaint of the Muslim side.

"We will get the authenticity of both the videos produced by the Hindu and the Muslim side verified and will conduct a detailed investigation into their allegations," the police commissioner said.

It may be noted that a protest was held against the film on the call of Bajrang Dal at Kastur Talkies premises.

Despite repeated attempts, Tannu Sharma, local convenor of Bajrang Dal, could not be contacted for his reaction over this episode. PTI HWP ADU NP NP NP