A jhalmuri seller hailing from Jhargram, West Bengal, has reported receiving death threats from unidentified individuals following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to his snack stall during an election campaign earlier this year.
The vendor, Vikram Sao, stated that the threatening calls commenced shortly after Prime Minister Modi stopped by his shop on April 19. The viral moment from the high-profile political event quickly garnered attention, bringing unwanted notoriety to Sao and his business.
Sao asserted he has been receiving repeated phone and video calls from international numbers purportedly linked to Pakistan and Bangladesh. He described these threats as alarming, including a warning to kill him and his family along with potential bomb attacks.
In some instances, the callers have terrified him via video calls, making menacing gestures and displaying weapons. Additional WhatsApp messages containing dire warnings have exacerbated his concerns.
While the threats did not directly reference Sao’s interaction with Modi, he surmised that they came about following the widely circulated video of the Prime Minister's visit.
During the campaign, PM Modi was filmed urging Sao to whip up the traditional Bengali dish of jhalmuri, made from puffed rice, onions, chilies, and mustard oil. Despite Sao's initial hesitance, Modi insisted on paying for the snack, a moment that quickly went viral.
In light of these threats, local law enforcement has reportedly heightened security measures for Sao and his family, stationing officers near their home as investigations probe the source of these unsettling calls.
Authorities have launched a formal inquiry aimed at identifying the perpetrators behind these threats and discerning whether the calls were authentic or part of a larger effort to incite fear. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding online harassment and the safety of everyday citizens thrust into the public eye by political events.
The case has ignited considerable dialogue on social media, with many users extending their support to the vendor and calling for stringent measures against those issuing threats.
