Police alleges "independence" slogans by "pro-freedom" Kashmiris were raised during an event organised by the NGO
Bengaluru: An FIR was yesterday registered against Amnesty International India under various IPC sections, including sedition, in connection with alleged raising of "independence" slogans by "pro-freedom" Kashmiris who entered into heated arguments with a Kashmiri Pandit leader for hailing Indian Army.
A police official involved in the investigation said that a First Information Report has been registered and investigations will proceed.
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The FIR has been registered under IPC sections-142 (being member of an unlawful assembly), 143 (whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), he said.
The event was organised by Amnesty International India at United Theological College.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had yesterday said the intention and background of those involved wil be investigated.
ABVP activists, who staged a protest yesterday against the event calling it "anti-national", had also filed a complaint with the police along with a CD containing video recording of the event.
Justice for victims
Holding that it had organised the event as part of a campaign to seek justice for "victims of human rights violations" in Jammu and Kashmir, Amnesty International India in a statement had said towards the end of the event, some of those who attended raised slogans, some of which referred to calls for 'azadi' (freedom).
Noting that as a matter of policy it does not take any position in favour of or against demands for self-determination, Amnesty had said it, however, considers that the right to freedom of expression under international human rights law protects the right to peacefully advocate political solutions that do not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
NGO responds
Amnesty International India, in a statement yesterday said "The event involved discussions with families from Kashmir, who were featured in a 2015 report, who had traveled to Bengaluru to narrate their personal stories of grief and loss."
The NGO, however, said, it has "not yet received" a copy of the FIR.
"Merely organising an event to defend constitutional values is now being branded 'anti-India' and criminalised," said Aakar Patel, Executive Director, Amnesty International India.
'Police was present'
"The police were invited and present at the event. The filing of a complaint against us now, and the registration of a case of sedition, shows a lack of belief in fundamental rights and freedoms in India. Among those who spoke at the event were the family of Shahzad Ahmad Khan, one of the men killed in the Macchil extrajudicial execution, where five Army personnel were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment," it said in the statement.
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