Two tourists pull down pro-Palestinian posters in India - reports

Two tourists allegedly pulled down pro-Palestinian posters in India on Monday, with police saying on Wednesday that no decision had been made on whether to bring charges.

Police have "registered a case" against them, the Indian Express newspaper said.

The relevant provision of India's penal code concerns "wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause riot, whether or not riot is committed".

The women's names were not included in the police's report and the tourists have been released given the alleged crime is considered bailable.

Police said the women pulled down a poster in Fort Kochi, a neighbourhood in the city of Kochi in the state of Kerala.

Footage posted to social media showed an argument between a woman speaking with an apparent Australian accent and a man who seems to be Indian.

The Indian-based News Minute media outlet said the CCTV video depicted one woman pulling down a mural as the other filmed it.

The Indian Express cited police as saying posters were put up during the New Year, who clarified that no authorisation was given to put the posters up and that it was down to the "local civic body to remove them from public places."

The New Arab on Wednesday called the Fort Kochi police station, which said the accused had not been arrested but were under "surveillance" and that no decision had been made on whether to bring charges.

Although initial reports suggested that the women were either Australian or Austrian citizens, The New Arab received confirmation from the Austrian international affairs ministry that it did not receive any information regarding the incident, adding that: "There may be confusion regarding the nationality."

Meanwhile, Australia's foreign affairs department told The New Arab that it was "providing consular assistance to an Australian woman in India" without revealing any further details.