Varanasi: Showing solidarity with Palestine cost dearly to a Muslim cleric in Azamgarh district. He had allegedly appealed to his community to put the flag of Palestine on houses and vehicles after Friday namaz. The police on Thursday arrested the cleric, Maulana Yasir Akhtar, after booking him under section 505 (2) (statements conducing to public mischief) of IPC. Azamgarh SP Sudhir Kumar Singh said, “It came to our notice that Yasir, a resident of North Churihar kasba in Saraimir area, made an appeal on his Facebook page —Azamgarh Express — displaying the Palestinian flag and asking the community members to the such flags atop their houses and vehicles after Friday namaz.” “An FIR was lodged against him at Saraimir police station, and he was arrested with the help of the surveillance cell. Further legal action against him is underway,” he added. It may be noted that violence has escalated in the past some days in coastal territory of Gaza between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces.