Tipu Sultan cutout video with Pakistan reference sparks row in Karnataka, 23-year-old arrested

CHIKKAMAGALURU: Chikkamagaluru Police arrested a 23-year-old man on Tuesday for allegedly circulating a video featuring a Tipu Sultan cutout with a song containing references to “Pakistan” and “Mujahid”, prompting heightened security in the district, police said.Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Dayama clarified that the action was not related to the installation of the Tipu Sultan cutout itself.He said a similar cutout had been installed at Tipunagara at the same location, around the same time and with the same dimensions in previous years.According to Dayama, police had earlier told organisers they could continue with arrangements followed over the past five to 10 years, but would not permit any new cutouts or decorations.The issue surfaced around 5pm to 5.30pm when the cutout was used as the backdrop in a video and a song containing a word referring to “Pakistan” and “Mujahid” was added, the SP said.The video was later circulated through multiple social media accounts and came to the police’s attention, ANI reported.Police registered an FIR under Sections 196 and 299 and traced the account that first circulated the video, following which the 23-year-old local resident of Tipunagara was arrested and is being produced before a magistrate, Dayama said.He allegedly shared the video as his WhatsApp status, sent direct messages to some Instagram accounts and other individuals, and uploaded a reel on his Instagram account, police said.Police are also probing the role of others who may have viewed, shared or recirculated the content."We are still in the process of ascertaining their role. If someone else also with intention did the same, then we will definitely arrest them and produce them," Dayama said.The SP said police were also trying to identify the person who originally created the video. A request has been sent to Meta for the relevant IP address as part of efforts to trace the original account.Dayama said the situation in Chikkamagaluru remained peaceful and police had spoken to community leaders. He said action would be taken against anyone attempting to create disturbances.Police social media monitoring teams at both the district and police station levels were also closely monitoring the situation, he said.More than 300 Home Guards, four Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) platoons and local police personnel have been deployed for security, Dayama said. The forces will continue to monitor the situation during the function and the upcoming procession."Everything is peaceful, everything is calm, and this function will go on," Dayama said.(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in BengaluruStay updated with the latest Bengaluru news. Download the TOI App.