Child's hate slogans at PFI rally: HC demands strong action against organizers; 24 more in police custody

KOCHI: The high court intervened and asked for strong action in the incident where a child raised hateful slogans at a Popular Front rally in Alappuzha. The court said that the organizers of the rally are responsible for this and therefore a case should be registered against the organizers and asked what is going on in the country. The court was hearing a petition filed against the rally. The government had also told the high court that it was unfortunate that the hate slogans were made at the rally.

Meanwhile, police took 24 more people into custody in the incident. Those taken into custody are people who repeated the slogan after the child. The charge against them is shouting provocative slogans. They were caught from different parts of the state.

Navaz and Ansar, who were arrested earlier in the case, were handcuffed and brought to court by the police. This was criticized by the First Class Magistrate Court. The court warned that the accused shouldn't be brought in court in handcuffs. The magistrate said that an explanation will be sought from the jail department regarding the detention of the accused who were brought to the court from the Mavelikkara sub-jail. They were remanded in police custody till March 31.

Police have not yet been able to locate the boy and father who shouted the slogan. The police assume that the child and his family are absconding. It was the father who brought the child to the performance. Therefore, a case will be registered against the father as well. Police said the probe has been extended to Erattupetta for them.