Meanwhile, Amnesty International reacted strongly to the development and issued a statement saying that Bengaluru police were present at the event and the registration of sedition case against them two days later displayed a lack of belief in fundamental rights and freedoms in India.
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The Newsminute has reported that a First Information Report was filed on the basis of a complaint filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a student organisation affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“We are investigating the complaint and checking the video to ascertain the charges and identify those who raised the slogans for culpability”, the official said but declined to elaborate.
Amnesty India charged with sedition over Kashmir slogans was posted in World of TheNews International – https://www.thenews.com.pk on August 16, 2016 and was last updated on August 16, 2016.
A panel discussion at the event had turned chaotic after a Kashmiri Pandit praised the Indian army at the event. Eyewitnesses said the group demanded freedom for Kashmir from India and the slogans were very similar to that held at a programme in JNU a few months back.
On Monday, JC Nagar police registered a case under IPC Sections 124 A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly) and 147 (punishment for rioting). Police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters.
Amnesty had obtained police protection for the event. Sedition carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, although convictions are rare.
Three families from the Valley were to speak about alleged human rights violations by the armed forces as a part of Amnesty’s Broken Families’ campaign.
BJP’s Lok Sabha member from Mysuru Pratap Simha was dismayed that police had allowed such an event and lamented that the state intelligence agency was unaware ot it in advance or later.
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While it does not take any position in favour of or against demands for self-determination, the NGO considers that the right to freedom of expression under worldwide human rights law includes the right to peacefully advocate political solutions, as long as it does not involve incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
