Mangaluru : The Ullal Police have booked Attaullah Jokatte, Dakshina Kannada district president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), for allegedly inciting communal hatred by staging a skit on the demolition of Babri Masjid.

The skit was part of the Babri Masjid Expo, a month-long campaign of SDPI demanding restoration of the masjid, organised near the Ullal Sayyid Madani Dargah near here on Saturday.

Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh said that the sequence of events leading to the demolition of the Babri Masjid was enacted during the 10-minute-long skit. As this skit had the potential to incite communal hatred, the Ullal Police Inspector took suo motu cognisance of the play and booked Mr. Jokatte, as he was the one who had sought permission for the expo. He has been booked under Section 153 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Indian Penal Code.

Meanwhile, SDPI activists staged a demonstration in front of the Ullal Police Station here on Tuesday evening.

In a press meet earlier in the day, SDPI State general secretary Riyaz Farangipet accused the police of foisting a case against Mr. Jokatte at the behest of district in-charge Minister U.T. Khader. He said that the SDPI will now launch a legal fight.