Police arrests 20 in India for failing to stand up for national anthem

At least 20 people were arrested in India for not standing during national anthem prior to public screening of films, officials said Tuesday.

The arrests came two weeks after India's apex court ruled that the anthem must be played before every film screening, accompanied by an image of the national flag. It also made incumbent upon audiences inside cinemas to stand up during the anthem.

Twelve people have been arrested in southern Indian state of Kerela on Monday and another eight were arrested in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.

"All the 12 people arrested here have been released on bail," a police official posted in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala said.

According to police, the arrests were made after volunteers at the International Film Festival of Kerala complained to them that the 12 openly defied the court ruling and ignored requests from them to stand for the anthem.

Reports said ahead of arrests some of them were assaulted.

Another eight people were arrested on Sunday at a cinema in the southern city of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu after being assaulted by a group of men reportedly the right-wing activists.

The arrests at both the places were made for allegedly showing disrespect to the national anthem. Police officials said they have started an investigation into whether the accused breached the Indian law pertaining to Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1971. Breaching the act intentionally entails a punishment of fine and prison up to three years.

According to India's Supreme court, the decision was aimed at instilling a sense of patriotism among people. Endit