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Police attempt to arrest Tamil lawyer wearing Buddha-print saree

Jaffna police attempted to arrest a Tamil lawyer wearing a saree with a Buddha face print on Wednesday.

Police officers reportedly waited outside court for the lawyer to arrest her, after being contacted by the court police.

An argument ensued with the lawyer’s colleagues intervening in her defence. The police abandoned the arrest attempt but asked the lawyer to give a statement at the police station, to which the lawyer complied.

An Indian tourist was detained for wearing a similar ‘kalamkari’ print last year. The traditional art form involves hand-painting or block printing Hindu or Buddhist iconography onto cotton textiles and has seen a revival in mainstream Indian fashion in recent years, with Buddha-print garments becoming especially popular.

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