Police in India have ordered a 22-year-old Muslim to prove he is not a traitor by leading Tuesday's celebrations of the split from Pakistan in 1947.

Dilnawaz Alam was accused by neighbours in Sheohar District, northeast India, of posting pro-Pakistan content on his Facebook page, including pictures of the former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, ahead of the 70th anniversary of partition.

In order to show his repentance, “he has undertaken to participate in the Independence day function with suitable fervor”, an official said, “by putting up the national flag on the mast, salut[ing] it during its unfurling and join[ing] others in singing the national anthem.”