Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 13: Police detained six people, including a woman, on Monday for remaining seated while the national anthem was being played ahead of a movie screening at the ongoing 21st edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK).
The police later released them after registering a case under provisions of Section 188 of the IPC.
The incident took place at the Nishagandhi open theatre ahead of an evening screening in the competition category, of the Egyptian film Clash.
“What they did was in violation of the recent Supreme Court order in this connection. We are considering the options before registering a case,” Circle Inspector Anilkumar told.
Amid debates
It was earlier revealed through posts on social media and newspaper photographs that some of the festival delegates remained seated during the national anthem during the screenings at the IFFK, which commenced here on December 9.
Even as a debate on nationalism through legal interventions continues, some political leaders have come out criticising what they called the delegates’ rebellion without a reason and their tendency to “insult” the national anthem.
The BJP-affiliated Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha also handed over a complaint in this connection to state police chief Loknath Behera.
An ACP is learnt to have been assigned to monitor adherence to the Supreme Court order during screenings at the IFFK.
The festival concludes on Friday.
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