A contract worker with the electricity department in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur has been dismissed after he was seen waving a Palestinian flag during Eid celebrations.
The action was taken after images of the worker, identified as Saqib Khan, circulated widely on social media. According to officials, Khan was photographed waving the flag following Eid prayers on March 31. Khan was employed at the Kailashpur powerhouse.
Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Engineer of the Electricity Department, stated that Khan’s actions were viewed as “anti-national,” prompting immediate departmental action.
"Saqib Khan, a contractual employee, waved a Palestinian flag after offering Eid prayers and shared a picture of it on social media,” Kumar said. “Once the matter came to our attention, it was considered an anti-national act. We immediately contacted the contract agency and instructed them to terminate his employment," he added.
The department has since confirmed that the contract company has been ordered to remove Khan from service and report back upon compliance.
This incident comes on the heels of similar action taken against eight individuals in the same district who appeared in a video waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans. Authorities are currently working to identify additional individuals from the footage and plan to initiate legal proceedings.
Superintendent of Police (City) Vyom Bindal said, "We have received a video via social media showing several youths waving the flag of another country. The matter is under investigation, and appropriate action will follow."
He added that the flags were quickly taken down by police after the incident, which occurred near the Ambala Road Eidgah.