Kerala Police Files FIR Against Tourist Who Tore Down Pro-Palestine Mural In Fort Kochi

The Kerala Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against a pro-Israel tourist who tore down a pro-Palestine mural near the Kochi Jankar Jetty, an area under the jurisdiction of the Fort Kochi police station. The FIR has been recorded under IPC Section 153 of The Indian Penal Code, 1860, for wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause a riot.

The Fort Kochi police station has confirmed the FIR, stating that “the person mentioned in the FIR has not been arrested, and it is a matter of investigation”.

A video of the alleged incident went viral on social media on Tuesday, showing a tourist arguing with locals while holding parts of the mural in her hand at the same location mentioned in the FIR. The complaint was filed after activists from the Student Islamic Organisation (SIO) and local residents protested against the act.

The mural belonged to SIO, and the complaint was lodged by Muhammed Azeem KS, a leader of the student body in Fort Kochi, situated in Kerala’s Ernakulam district.