By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city police on Monday took six persons, including a woman, into custody for allegedly showing disrespect to the national anthem at the Nishagandhi auditorium during the IFFK. The incident took place around 6 pm when the special screening of an Egyptian film ‘Clash’ was scheduled to begin. When the national anthem started playing, six delegates were found sitting on the chairs dishonouring the national anthem. They were subsequently taken into custody by the Museum police.

Later in the day, the Museum police registered cases against six more persons for allegedly dishonouring the national anthem during the screening of a film. They were granted conditional bail. According to the police, all the accused were warned and released after taking statements from them.

The police action came after State Police Chief Loknath Behera ordered to register a case against those who dishonour the national anthem during the festival. He also entrusted Cantonment Assistant Commissioner of Police K E Baiju to keep a tab on such practices during the festival. Earlier in the day, the DGP had received complaints from Yuva Morcha stating that a large number of delegates were showing disrespect to the national anthem before the screening of the films since the fest began last Friday.

Similar case in Chennai

On Sunday, a similar incident was reported at a cinema hall in Chennai where seven youths were booked after the police invoked provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, against the accused.