Bengaluru Police have registered a case against a 20-year-old student for allegedly wearing a T-shirt bearing the words “Azad Kashmir” in public. The incident came to light after a video surfaced on social media showing the youth riding pillion on a bike wearing the controversial shirt.
According to police, the accused, identified as Inayat Ameen, a computer science student at Ambedkar Institute of Technology under the Kengunte Circle limits, has been booked under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for acts seen as potentially disturbing public harmony.
The FIR was filed based on a complaint by PSI Mohan Kumar, who serves as the nodal officer for the social media monitoring cell at Jnanabharathi police station. “While reviewing social media posts on September 23 around 10 a.m., I came across an Instagram video showing a youth wearing a T-shirt with ‘Azad Kashmir’ written on the back. The content was deemed capable of disrupting public order,” the officer stated in his complaint.
Police said the student was issued a notice and questioned. During interrogation, Inayat reportedly claimed that he was unaware of the words printed on the T-shirt and that it had been given to him by someone else.
“We have warned the student and allowed him to go. However, the case has been formally registered, and the matter is under review,” police officials said.
Authorities added that wearing or displaying slogans that could hurt national sentiments or disturb communal harmony is considered a serious offense under Indian law. The police have urged students and the public to exercise caution while posting or wearing politically or regionally sensitive messages.
