Catholic priest held for insulting National flag

Catholic priest held for insulting Indian flag
He unfurled the flag on a pole with a cross atop.
Posted on August 16, 2012, 8:30 AM
Mangalore: Police in Karnataka yesterday took into custody a Catholic priest for allegedly insulting the Indian flag on the country’s Independence Day.

Fr. Vincent of Puttur Syro-Malankara diocese unfurled the flag on a pole with a cross atop at the bishop’s residence at Parladka in Puttur.

Since Bishop Geevarghese Mar Divannasios was away, Fr. Vincent, assistant pastor of the cathedral parish, decided to hoist the flag.

He also allegedly used a clothesline to hoist the flag, which violated the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.

Ulle Gowda, tehsildar of Puttur, said the police took the priest into custody to avoid any untoward incident after a mob gathered outside the bishop’s residence to protest the “insult” to the national flag.

They protested the national flag fluttering under a cross.

Gowda said the police did not file a case against the priest since the law does not specify how the flag should be hoisted in a private place. He said they have asked their higher officials to clarify the matter.

The law prohibits desecration of the country's national symbols such as the flag, Constitution and anthem or insult to them.

The police later released the priest.

The diocese was carved out of Bathery diocese in neighboring Kerala state in 2010.

Source: Times of India/Daijiworld

Courtesy: 

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Source: Times of India Stanley Pinto, TNN | Aug 15, 2012, 06.29PM IST

MANGALORE: Puttur police took a priest belonging to Kerala-based Syro-Malankara Catholic Church into custody on Wednesday for allegedly insulting the national flag at the Bishop's House, Parladka, Puttur near here. 

The priest, Fr Vincent, had unfurled the national flag on a pole on which a crucifix was fixed atop and the tricolour below. It was also alleged that the tricolour was hoisted using a clothesline. 

The priest was let off later as there was no clarity of law regarding hoisting of the national flag in private place. Puttur Tehsildar Ulle Gowda told TOI that they have not booked a case under The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 as private space is not mentioned in it and there is a mention of public places. The act is a law prohibiting desecration of or insult to the country's national symbols, including the flag, constitution, and anthem. 

"We have brought this matter to the attention of the higher authorities for clarity on this issue," he added. Gowda also said that the police took the priest into custody a mob had gathered and he was taken to taken away to prevent any untoward incident.