India’s Kashmir Police Nab Youth Over Threatening Video
In a situation that reads like the plot of an intense thriller, police in India’s Kashmir region arrested a young man after he posted a video threatening to behead a former spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The spokesperson in question had previously made inflammatory remarks about Islam’s chief prophet, Prophet Mohammad, sparking nationwide outrage.
The Viral Video Gets Shut Down
The clip originally circulated on YouTube, but authorities pulled it down as part of a broader effort to quell religious tensions that have spill‑overed across the country.
Muslim Communities Rally in Protest
Across India, Muslim groups took to the streets to denounce the remarks of two BJP politicians. Earlier this month, parliamentarians Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal were suspended and expelled over their controversial statements about the Prophet’s private life — remarks that even struck a nerve in several Muslim-majority countries, creating diplomatic headaches for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- The BJP halted Sharma’s role as a spokeswoman.
- Jindal was removed from the party’s ranks.
- Both faced police filings for their inflammatory content.
Twitter Storm & Threats
Jindal tweeted on Sunday that his family was “under continuous threats,” prompting followers to claim a crude bomb was defused near his Delhi residence. The hashtags trended, with Muslim groups demanding the officials’ arrest, while hard‑line Hindu factions hailed them as brave nationalists.
Global Reactions
Countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Iran lodged formal protests, urging India to apologize. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that the statements do not reflect official government views.
Spill‑Over of Violence
- In Ranchi, protests turned deadly as two teenagers were killed during clashes with police.
- Uttar Pradesh’s northern district saw sporadic riots, leading to the arrest of over 300 people.
- In West Bengal, emergency ordinances banned public gatherings in Howrah, resulting in 70 arrests for rioting and a 48‑hour internet blackout.
BJP’s Response in West Bengal
The party’s West Bengal president staged a sit‑in protest, blaming Bangladesh for inciting violence— a claim that echoes the region’s long and porous border.
Balancing Act for the Government
Senior BJP leaders now advise caution when discussing religion publicly, as the government tightens security measures across the nation.
