J&K: At least 25 detained after Ashoka emblem vandalised at Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar

At least 25 persons were detained for questioning in connection with the vandalism of an inauguration plaque with the Ashoka emblem in the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, PTI reported on Sunday.

The persons were detained based on security camera videos of the incident that took place on Friday.

No person has been arrested so far, the news agency quoted an unidentified police officer as saying.

The Islamic shrine houses a holy relic of Prophet Muhammad. The structure had recently undergone a renovation and was inaugurated by Darakshan Andrabi, the chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board and a Bharatiya Janata Party leader.

A plaque featuring the national emblem was installed at the site, which sparked criticism.

On Friday, protesters allegedly damaged the plaque with stones and shouted slogans, saying that the emblem went against Islamic principles.

Videos of the vandalism were widely shared on social media.

On Saturday, the police registered a first information report in the matter under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to voluntarily disturbing an assembly lawfully performing religious worship or ceremonies, intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of the peace or another offence, rioting, cause wrongful loss or damage and criminal conspiracy.

The FIR also invoked the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act.

Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi said on Sunday that he was anguished...

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