Student booked for insulting national anthem in Kerala

Kochi: A third year BA student of the Nirmala College in Muvattupuzha has been placed under suspension by the management after a video showing him laughing at and moving around while the national anthem was being played got circulated among the students. College principal Dr T.M. Joseph suspended Aslam Salem on Thursday after examining the video and recording statements of students present in the classroom when the incident happened.

"The video came to our notice and after ascertaining the veracity, we placed him under suspension. The college won't tolerate such acts and will dismiss him if it's proven beyond doubt that he disrespected national anthem. The incident happened on the evening of February 27," Mr Joseph told DC over phone. In the video, Aslam can be seen laughing at and moving around even as the other students stand in attention as the national anthem is played. The video is thought to be recorded by another student. Meanwhile, the students' faction of KSU alleged that Aslam was an active SFI leader and its former unit secretary, a charge denied by the rival faction. The Muvattupuzha police has lodged a cased over the incident. "We've booked him under Section 3 of the 'Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, based on reports," said C. Jayakumar, station head officer, Muvattupuzha.