SHIVAMOGGA — Indian police have detained one Muslim man and launched a search for two others after a Palestinian flag was displayed atop a structure erected for a Mawlid al-Nabi celebration in Shivamogga, Karnataka, on Aug. 24.
Police identified the men as Nihal, also known as Bekku, Umar and Abrahar. According to authorities, the three allegedly climbed onto the Mawlid structure in the RML Nagar area, unfurled a Palestinian flag and recorded the incident on video. The footage was later shared on Instagram.
The incident prompted officers at Doddapet police station to register a case and begin an investigation. Police said they were examining whether the display and its circulation on social media could promote hostility between communities or create a public-order concern.
Nihal was detained for questioning, while Umar and Abrahar had not been located, according to police. Authorities said efforts to trace the two men were continuing.
The case has drawn attention because the display occurred during a religious celebration and involved a symbol associated with the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian expressions have appeared at various public gatherings in India, while authorities have sometimes taken action when they believe such displays could lead to communal tension.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and that further legal action will depend on the evidence collected, including the video allegedly circulated online.
