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GORAKHPUR: A Muslim cleric has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh ’s Maharajganj for stopping children in a madrassa from singing the National Anthem. The incident occurred after flag hoisting at Arabia Ahle Sunnat Anware Taiba Girls’ College under Koluhi police station on Independence Day.

A teacher at the madrassa protested the cleric’s action, shot a video of the incident and put it on social media. As the video went viral, a resident complained to the police. Subsequently, a case was registered against cleric Mohammad Junaid Ansari and two unidentified persons. Ansari was arrested and sent to jail. The case against Ansari and the two unidentified persons was filed under sedition charges, criminal law amendment Act, IT Act and for insult to national honour.

According to the police, Ansari was an outsider at the madrassa. After flag hoisting by principal Faizlurrehman, Ansari came up and stopped children from singing the National Anthem.

In the video, he can be seen asking children to refrain from singing Jana Gana Mana. He even tells them that singing it is not allowed in Islam. The principal does not contest Ansari’s claims. Science teacher Sunil Mani Tripathi, who shot the video, can be heard protesting against Ansari’s action.

Koluhi ASP Ashutosh Tripathi said the case had been filed on the complaint of one Umesh Yadav. While Ansari had been arrested, investigations into the role of the other two were on, he added. District minority officer Prabhat Kumar, who was asked by DM Amar Nath Upadhyay to investigate the case, said: “Ansari was not associated with the madrassa. After the incident, the National Anthem was sung.”

