KARACHI: A young woman who chanted “Pakistan Zindabad” at a rally held in Bangalore on Thursday to protest against India’s Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 was taken into police custody and booked for sedition, The Wire reported on Friday.

Amulya Leona was on the stage when she urged the audience to chant “Pakistan Zindabad” with her. She shouted “Hindustan Zindabad” before the microphone was taken from her.

The Indian news website added that Leona was taken into custody and police said they had initiated a sedition case against her.

Leona was sent on three-day judicial custody, The Wire said, citing the ANI news agency. She was booked under Section 124(a) (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) and 153B (imputation, assertions prejudicial to national integration) of the Indian Penal Code.

In a video clip of the protest, shared by ANI on Twitter, Leona can be heard chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” multiple times.

Various leaders, including All India Majlis-i-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi, approached her and tried to take the microphone from her hands.

She then said “one second” and chanted “Hindustan Zindabad” as various individuals tried to take the microphone from her.

Even after the microphone had been taken from her, Leona continued to speak. She was eventually surrounded by a large crowd, including policemen, and was ushered off the stage.

According to The Wire, Leona’s video went viral.

Owaisi later described her as a “so-called liberal” and asked all liberals to “refrain from any events involving Muslims”, the website added.

Additionally, The Hindu reported that several individuals, allegedly Bharatiya Janata Party supporters, threw stones at Leona’s father’s house following her move.

“They are all BJP supporters. They were in a group. I have complained to the police with the names of a few who led the group,” her father Wazi was quoted as saying.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2020