A 29-year-old sound engineer Jithin was arrested on Wednesday (8 May 2019) by Ashok Nagar Police, Bangalore for disrespecting the National Anthem that was being played before a movie Avenger End Game at Garuda Mall theatre. He was booked under Prevention of Insult to National Honours Act.
Shashidar, inspector of Ashoknagar police station said, “Based on the complaint from a person named Suman Kumar, we arrested Jithin under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act. He was released on station bail the same day.”
According to the complaint by Kumar, Jithin allegedly used a defamatory word against the National Anthem. The theatre staff told the two to leave the hall since the argument was disturbing others. On Wednesday, Suman Kumar lodged a complaint against Jithin at Ashoknagar police station.
Jitin Said, “I didn’t stand up for the anthem. The thugs took offence to that which lead to one of them assaulting me physically. I naturally reacted and more people started to gang up on me. INOX pulled me out while they left the thugs in the theatre. All charges and complaints were dropped. I wasn’t allowed to file charges as the police detained me unlawfully and didn’t give me any opportunity to do so. I am disappointed that no media outlet reached out to me not even once before publishing and branding me as an anti-national who was arrested and let out on bail,”.
Playing the National Anthem at cinemas before every show was made compulsory in 2016 following a Supreme Court order. Only the differently-abled were exempted from standing up when the anthem was being played. However, in January 2018 the apex court modified the order, accepting the Central government’s suggestion to the effect. But cinemas across the country continue to play the national anthem before shows.
A 29-year-old sound engineer Jithin was arrested on Wednesday (8 May 2019) by Ashok Nagar Police, Bangalore for disrespecting the National Anthem that was being played before a movie Avenger End Game at Garuda Mall theatre. He was booked under Prevention of Insult to National Honours Act.
Shashidar, inspector of Ashoknagar police station said, “Based on the complaint from a person named Suman Kumar, we arrested Jithin under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act. He was released on station bail the same day.”
According to the complaint by Kumar, Jithin allegedly used a defamatory word against the National Anthem. The theatre staff told the two to leave the hall since the argument was disturbing others. On Wednesday, Suman Kumar lodged a complaint against Jithin at Ashoknagar police station.
Jitin Said, “I didn’t stand up for the anthem. The thugs took offence to that which lead to one of them assaulting me physically. I naturally reacted and more people started to gang up on me. INOX pulled me out while they left the thugs in the theatre. All charges and complaints were dropped. I wasn’t allowed to file charges as the police detained me unlawfully and didn’t give me any opportunity to do so. I am disappointed that no media outlet reached out to me not even once before publishing and branding me as an anti-national who was arrested and let out on bail,”.
Playing the National Anthem at cinemas before every show was made compulsory in 2016 following a Supreme Court order. Only the differently-abled were exempted from standing up when the anthem was being played. However, in January 2018 the apex court modified the order, accepting the Central government’s suggestion to the effect. But cinemas across the country continue to play the national anthem before shows.
