India charges student after video shows ‘Azad Kashmir’ T-shirt
Authorities say the student’s attire promoted enmity, as political symbols tied to Kashmir face heightened scrutiny in India
BENGALURU, India (MNTV) — Police in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru have registered a criminal case against a college student after a video showed him wearing a T-shirt depicting the map and flag of “Azad Kashmir,” a term used in Pakistan for the portion of Kashmir it administers.
Authorities said the student, identified as Inayat Ameen, a computer science undergraduate at the Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology, was traced using the registration number of a motorbike visible in the viral clip.
The footage, posted on Instagram on September 22, shows Ameen sitting pillion on a bike wearing a red T-shirt emblazoned with the “Azad Kashmir” map and what appeared to be the Pakistani flag.
According to NDTV, police took suo motu cognisance of the incident — meaning they filed a case without a formal complaint — citing possible disruption to communal harmony. Ameen was summoned for questioning and recorded his statement under standard procedure.
Officials said the alleged offence carries a maximum sentence of less than seven years.
The case was filed under Section 196 of the Indian Penal Code, which covers acts deemed capable of promoting enmity or disturbing public peace on the basis of religion, language, or place of birth. A police sub-inspector at Jnanabharathi Police Station, who lodged the complaint, said the act could “potentially disturb public order.”
Investigators are now preparing a chargesheet after completing the inquiry.
The incident adds to a growing list of cases in which Indian students have faced criminal action for symbolic expressions perceived as political dissent. In March 2025, a philosophy student at Jadavpur University in Kolkata was arrested over graffiti reading “Azad Kashmir” and “Free Palestine” found on campus walls.
The episode reflects the increasingly sensitive climate surrounding political expression and nationalism in India, where imagery associated with Pakistan or Kashmir often triggers legal scrutiny under laws aimed at preserving “public harmony.”
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