Kerala Police Files Case In Connection With Controversial Cultural Event Held At Kozhikode

The complainant had moved the court after the police initially failed to register his complaint regarding the cultural event.

The Perambra-based MATHA dance group, however, denied the allegation ( Image Source :ANI )

Almost three months after a controversial cultural programme staged during the inauguration of the state school youth festival in Kozhikode, the Kerala police on Saturday lodged a case into the incident, reported news agency PTI

According to a senior police officer of the district, the case has been filed against 10 persons on the complaint filed by one Anoop VR against the controversial programme. The complainant alleged that Muslims were depicted as extremists during the school function.

"The case was lodged on the directions of a magisterial court," the officer said, according to PTI.

Anoop had moved the court after a case was not initially registered on his complaint by the police.

After the incident came to light, General Education Minister V Sivankutty had asked the Director of the Public Instructions (DPI) to to initiate a probe into the matter.

However, the issue snowballed into a major controversy as Opposition parties demanded an apology from Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and said that he should bear moral responsibility towards the event conducted as part of the state-run youth festival, reported PTI.

While the BJP state chief K Surendran had criticised the Left government over its decision to ban the performance group from further such events, saying it was a "surrender to religious extremists".

The musical programme performed at the school function depicted Indian army apprehending a man sporting a Keffiyeh, a traditional Arab headgear worn by men. However, it was said that the dance was performed without the costume before the screening committee, reported PTI.

The Perambra-based MATHA dance group, however, denied the allegation and said that the depiction of a person as extremist with Muslim outfit was not "intentional" and that they are not linked to any ideology.