RANCHI: A case has been filed against 18 people in connection with an incident involving the tampering of the national flag during a procession related to Muharram celebrations. The incident took place in the Palamu district of Jharkhand, approximately 175 km away from Ranchi.

The police obtained video footage showing the national flag being waved along with DJ music during the Muharram procession, which passed through Shahpur, Kalyanpur, and Kangari. In the middle of the flag, the Ashoka Chakra was replaced by Urdu letters and there was also a picture of a sword at the bottom of the flag. As a result, the police have registered a case against the 18 individuals involved under the Prohibition of Insults to National Dignity Act, 1971.

A similar incident occurred during last year's Muharram procession in Kanpur. In that case, some symbols were added to the national flag and disseminated. After the video went viral, organizations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal filed a complaint with the police.