Maharashtra: Israel flag stickers pasted on roads in Pune city; police register 4 cases

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Police in Maharashtra's Pune city has registered four First Information Reports against a number of people after stickers with pictures of Israel flag were found pasted on roads in some parts of the city.

News agency PTI reported quoting police that some people pasted stickers of the Israel flag on roads in Kondhwa, Bhawani Peth, Nana Peth and Pune cantonment areas with the intention of "disturbing social harmony and disrespect" late Friday night, against the backdrop of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The cases have been registered under Indian Penal Code Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot (if rioting be committed, if not committed) with Samarth, Khadak, Lashkar and Kondhwa police stations, the officials said.

"Some people pasted Israel flag stickers on roads in the jurisdiction of Samarth and Khadak police stations. We have registered two offences against five people," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Sandeep Singh Gill said.

An offence was also registered against four people for the alleged act with Lashkar police station, DCP (Zone II) Smartana Patil said.

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Besides, a case was registered against unidentified persons with Kondhwa police station, another official said.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes struck targets across besieged Gaza Strip early Monday, including in areas where Palestinian civilians have been told to seek refuge, after another small aid shipment was allowed into the territory.

Tanks and troops have been massed at the Gaza border, and Israel says it has stepped up airstrikes in order to reduce the risk to troops in the next stages.

Fears of a widening war have grown as Israeli warplanes have struck targets in the occupied West Bank, Syria and Lebanon in recent days.

So far, Israel has killed over 4400 Palestinians since October 7 after a surprise attack by Hamas militant group that killed around 1400 people.

Some 400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli air attacks on Gaza in the last 24 hours, according to Palestinian health officials, with 60 killed in overnight attacks.

Israel bombarded residential areas in Gaza including the densely populated Jabalia refugee camp and locations close to Gaza's Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals. (With inputs from agencies)