Kerala police arrests father of minor boy who raised provocative slogans at PFI rally

Kochi, May 28: In a major development, the Kerala police have finally arrested the father of the minor boy, who had courted controversy by allegedly raising provocative slogans during a recent march organised by the Popular Front of India (PFI).

 

A police officer said that the father was taken into custody and would travel to nearby Alappuzha soon for detailed interrogation. Further procedures would be decided later.

 

 

However, justifying his son's action, the man said the controversial slogan was not taught by anyone but the boy had learnt it while attending similar programmes before. He said it was not for the first time that his son was raising such a slogan in a programme and many such instances of him raising similar slogans could be seen on YouTube.

 

'We used to take part in the PFI's programmes. He had learnt the slogan when he attended a protest programme against the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). I don't understand why it has become a controversy now. What offence did he commit to harass a little boy like this?' he told media before taken into custody.

 

 

 

The family, including the boy, was reportedly away from the house ever since a purported video, in which the child could be seen sitting on the shoulder of a person and raising offensive slogans during the 'Save the Republic' rally held by the PFI on May 21, went viral on social media platforms prompting police to register a case.

 

So far, 20 persons have been arrested and remanded in the case and more people were being taken into custody for questioning from various places, he said.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, PFI activists staged a protest in Palluruthy against the police custody of the boy's father.

 

According to police sources, the boy would be sent for counselling at a government centre soon.Erattuepetta resident Anas, who carried the minor boy on his shoulders, was the first person to be arrested in the case.

 

Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class), 505(1)(b) (act against the public tranquility), 505(1)(c), 505(2) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and Section 120(o) of KP Act are included in the FIR.

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