The Madhya Pradesh police on Thursday dropped sedition charges against 15 persons for allegedly celebrating the victory of Pakistan in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.
The 15 people of Mohad village in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh had been booked under Sections 124-A of the Indian Penal Code, among other charges on Tuesday.
Burhanpur Superintendent of Police Rajaram Singh Parihar told The Hindu that they had dropped the sedition charges against the villagers as they were unable to find enough evidence and the complaint had been misinterpreted.
Fresh charge
The 15 persons have now been charged with Section 153 A of the IPC for allegedly disturbing communal harmony, the police said.
“We have dropped 124 A (sedition charges) of the IPC against the 15 villagers. However, they have been charged under Section 153 A of the IPC,” Mr. Parihar told this correspondent.
According to eyewitnesses, most of the villagers arrested were youngsters and daily wagers with no criminal record.
Move NHRC
After the police booked the villagers, the families of the accused approached the President of India, National and State Human Rights Commissions, National and State Minority Commissions stating that their relatives were innocent and that they did not celebrate Pakistan’s victory.
The case was registered in the Shahpur police station of the district. The police have sent the accused to Khandwa jail.
