NEW DELHI: Kashmiris and human rights activists getting slapped with sedition charges in India is passe. A young man was so miffed by his inflated electricity bill in Kanpur that he staged an unusual protest — he unfurled the Pakistani flag on his terrace, apparently aware that he would be slapped with a sedition case, the Indian Express said on Saturday.

It said Chandrapal Singh, 36, from Sisamau area of Kanpur district was arrested on Friday after he unfurled the Pakistan flag on his terrace as part of his protest against the government and district administration. The suspect, who has been booked under sedition charges, complained of excessive house, electricity and water bills and was fed up of making rounds at the offices of the authorities concerned who were not paying any heed to his complaints.

The local police took notice of the unique protest after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged demonstration outside the Chandrapal’s house.

Talking to the Indian Express, SHO of the Sisamau police station Dharmendra Singh said an FIR under sections 124-A (sedition) and 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the IPC had been filed against Chandrapal, who had been sent to jail. “The accused claimed that he wanted to attract the government and administration toward him so that he can share his plight with them. He had issues related to house, water and power bills,” added the SHO.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2016