Islamabad police removed dozens of banners propagating Akhand Bharat (United India) posters from various parts of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. The banners inflamed controversy and concern as pictures and videos of the provocative message inscribed on them were shared online, as reported by Dawn.
The banners had featured a screenshot of a video recording of proceedings in India’s Rajya Sabha which carried the message of Indian lawmaker Sanjay Raut
It is unclear what message the banners were intended to portray, as, along with the inflammatory statement, they also featured a logo inscribed with the words ‘Akhand Bharat (translating to United India) Real Terror’.
A few hours after videos of the posters went viral, the police arrested a suspect from Blue Area who is believed to have been responsible for having placed the banners. Police said the suspect, who is involved in the printing business, had received an order for the banners from another suspect, a resident of Gujranwala.
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Police have sealed a printing press in Islamabad where the banners were believed to have been printed. Intelligence agencies later took the suspect from police custody and shifted him to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
Later in the day, Islamabad District Magistrate sought an explanation from the municipal administration over the incident and questioned the delay of over five hours in removing the banners. A case in this regard was yet to be registered till late in the night.