Two students of an engineering college in Bengaluru have been booked for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans in a cultural programme, police said on Saturday, November 19. The students of the New Horizon College of Engineering had shouted 'Pakistan Zindabad in a cultural fest organised on the premises of the college on Thursday. The police have said that on questioning, the students said that they raised the slogans for fun in the cultural fest, and did not have any ill intentions. After a video where two of them – a young boy and a girl – were seen laughing and shouting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ went viral on social media, the college management reportedly lodged a complaint with the police and suspended them. The students were arrested and then let off on bail.

After they raised the slogans, some of the other students physically assaulted them, police told Indian Express. In another video, a group of people were seen intimidating the boy and girl, and compelling the boy to say ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Jai Karnataka Mathe’. While two students raised the slogans, another student recorded the video. The students have reportedly apologised for raising the slogans. 

A case was lodged under Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The police have questioned the students in this regard and have taken their mobiles into custody, before letting them off on station bail. The students have been asked to attend an inquiry on Saturday, according to IANS.