THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an embarrassing incident, the national flag was hoisted upside down by state port minister Ahamad Deverkoil during the Republic Day parade at the district headquarters in Kasaragod in north Kerala on Wednesday. After hoisting the flag, the minister and other officials including the district superintendent of police saluted the Tricolour. Later some journalists who came to cover the event noticed the error and alerted the officials. Embarrassed district officials later lowered the flag and the minister hoisted it again. According to the Prevention of Insult to the National Flag or Constitution, whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, difiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or [otherwise shows disrespect to or brings] into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
