Two people from Punjab were detained by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday in connection with pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans painted at more than five Delhi metro stations on August 27, according to officials. The police reported that additional investigation is being carried out.
Before the G20 Summit, which is scheduled to be held in the nation’s capital next month under India’s presidency, a case had been filed after it was discovered that the walls of several metro stations throughout Delhi had been defaced with pro-Khalistan graffiti, police said on Sunday. The case has been filed under Section 153 A, Section 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the Defacement Act, claims a Delhi Police official.
Section 153A criminalises and punishes making statements, speeches, or acts that have the effect of disturbing public tranquilly or law and order by promoting enmity or creating fear or alarm between classes of people on the basis of differences in religion, caste, language, or place of birth.
Section 505, on the other hand, criminalises making statements, reports, or rumours that encourage members of the armed forces or a police officer to refuse to perform their duty, encourage a person to commit offences against the state or disturb public tranquilly, and incite persons to disturb public tranquilly.