Three Muslim clerics have been booked for treason after a viral video showed them preventing children from singing the national anthem during an Independence Day program, Indian Express has reported.

The accused are believed to be madrasa teachers in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj. The name of the institution is said to be Arbia Ahle Sunnat Anwaare Taiba Girls College Badgo.

In the viral video, the students were seen being stopped from singing the national anthem after the flag hoisting ceremony. One of the accused clerics was even heard saying that, Hamare yahan rashtragan nahin hogaj, nayaz hai (We do not sing the national anthem, it is not allowed).

Even though a couple of participants openly advocated that the national anthem is sung, the Muslim clerics refused to budge.

Here is the video in question:

As per a Times Now report, the three accused clerics have been identified as Maulana Mohammad Zunaid Ansari, Mohammad Alzoor Rahman, and Mohammad Nizam.

An inquiry was ordered in the matter by District Magistrate Amarnath Upadhaya, which led to the clerics being booked under various sections of the IPC.

Reports have claimed that the police have now arrested the clerics. The authorities have claimed that the children eventually managed to sing the national anthem.