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Kolkata: Amidst the exciting spectacle of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, a poignant image emerged at the Eden Gardens cricket stadium in Kolkata. A man was caught on camera waving Palestine flag and launching a ‘Free Palestine’ campaign during Pakistan’s ODI World Cup 2023 encounter against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
In a photo that went viral on social media, as the Palestinian flag fluttered in the Kolkata air, the cricket match was momentarily eclipsed. Although ICC is yet to comment on the matter, but according to sources, the local police have detained four people in connection with the incident. The incident has come to light in the wake of Israel’s offensive on Gaza strip following Hamas’ attack on Israel.
The four were taken into custody by law enforcers from Maidan police station and they were being questioned, he added.
Two of them hails from Jharkhand, while the other two are from Kolkata’s Ekbalpore and neighbouring Howrah, a senior police officer said.
According to detailed information, “Policemen posted there at first could not understand what the protesters were up to. Then they waved the flag of Palestine and were detained. They, however, did not raise any slogan”.
Kolkata Police sources said preliminary investigation revealed that the four men, all aged in their early 20s, were protesting against the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and chose the international match to launch their agitation.
