Case against Australian tourist for vandalising pro-Palestine banner in Kochi

KOCHI: Fort Kochi police has registered a case in connection with two female foreign tourists vandalising pro-Palestine banners on Monday night. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by SIO (Students Islamic Organisation of India) area secretary Muhammed Azeem K S in Fort Kochi. But the investigation into the complaint has found that only one of the tourists was involved in the case.

The tourist who vandalised the banners has been identified as Zara Shilensky Michele, 38. Police said she is from Australia and they informed the Australian embassy. Officials of the embassy has reached Kochi following the intimation. She will be arrested on Thursday and will be released on station bail since the charge against her is bailable offence.

As per the First Information Report (FIR), the foreign women tourists vandalised the pro Palestine banners, placed in front of jankar jetty protesting against the genocide of Palestine nationals by the Israel, with the intention to incite riot.

A video of the tourists with the torn apart posters went viral on social media the other day. One of them was seen arguing with local people in the night carrying the torn down banners while the other person was capturing the incident on her mobile phone.

Case has been registered under section 153 of the IPC.

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