The Jammu and Kashmir Police detained two locals on Monday (June 23, 2025) for displaying flags of the U.S. and Israel in Balhama on the outskirts of the city of Srinagar.

A police spokesman said the two individuals were detained for installing foreign flags during night hours in an apparent attempt “to disturb public peace and order”.

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“Acting on credible inputs, including visual evidence indicating the installation of the United States and Israel flags, the Srinagar Police launched a prompt investigation,” the police said. Six to seven suspects were identified and questioned. “Sustained interrogation led to the confirmation of involvement of three individuals,” the police said.

The police identified the suspects as Mohsin Ali Dar, Bilal Ahmad Dar and Amir Ali Dar, all residents of Balhama. “Two of the accused have been detained, while efforts are under way to apprehend the third,” the police said.

According to the J&K Police, the act was being seen as a deliberate attempt to “provoke public sentiment, disturb communal harmony, and propagate anti-social narratives”. “Legal action under relevant provisions of law has been initiated,” the police said.