Undertrial salutes Tricolour 21 times as part of bail clause

Bhopal: Bhopal resident Faizan alias Faizal, who is accused of raising pro-Pakistan slogans, stood in front of the national flag at Misrod police station on Tuesday, saluted 21 times, each time saying ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai' as part of the bail condition set by MP high court.

He has to do this every Tuesday and Friday until the case is over. A resident of Mandideep on the outskirts of Bhopal, Faizal ran a puncture repair shop in Misrod.

The incident dates to May 15, when a video of Faizal shouting anti-national slogans — ‘Pakistan Zindabad, Hindustan Murdabad' — went around social media. Members of a right-wing organisation filed a complaint at Misrod police station on May 17 and a case was registered against Faizan.

He was arrested under section 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and has been in custody since then.

Faizan's counsel acknowledged that he shouted the slogan but prayed to high court to grant him bail with some stringent conditions.

Around six days ago, MP high court granted him bail on the condition that he must appear at Misrod police station twice a month, salute the flag 21 times, and shout ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai' each time.

This Tuesday was his first. Faizan arrived at the police station and fulfilled this obligation.

According to sources, in conversations with police personnel, Faizan said he deeply regrets his behaviour and is committed to complying with the court's orders.