Police say swords and axes were given to about 250 homes; viral video showed calls to harm Muslims in Shalimar Garden area
GHAZIABAD — Police in Uttar Pradesh have arrested Hindu Raksha Dal leader Pinky Chaudhary, also known as Bhupendra Chaudhary, and her son Harsh in a case linked to the public distribution of weapons and open threats against Muslims in Ghaziabad’s Shalimar Garden area.
The arrests on Tuesday follow a viral video from December 29, 2025, showing members of the Hindu Raksha Dal holding and handing out swords, axes, and other sharp weapons in a residential locality. The footage caused fear among Indian Muslims living in the area, many of whom said the message in the video was clear and frightening.
According to police records, the event was led by Pinky Chaudhary, the national president of the organisation. The group claimed weapons were given to nearly 250 households. The video shows people standing in the open, raising weapons, while strong words were used against Muslims.
In the clip, one voice is heard saying, “Keep this at home for protection from Jihadis. Use it if anyone casts an evil eye on your sister or daughter.” Another statement in the same video says, “What is happening in Bangladesh should not happen in India. There is no need to be afraid of Jihadis.”
Muslim residents said such words made daily life unsafe. A local resident, who asked not to be named, said, “We felt scared after seeing the video. Our children were afraid to step out. This was not about safety, it was a threat.”
Police said the language used in the video crossed legal limits. An officer involved in the case said, “Displaying weapons in public and making statements that call for violence is a crime. Action was taken as soon as the video came to notice.”
An FIR was registered on December 29 at Shalimar Garden police station. Sixteen people were named, including Pinky Chaudhary and her son Harsh. The complaint also listed 25 to 30 unknown persons. Sections related to rioting, rioting with deadly weapons, wrongful restraint, and provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act were applied.
By December 30, police had arrested ten people, including Kapil Kumar, Shyam Yadav, Arun Jain, Rampal, and Amit Singh. Several swords were recovered during searches. Pinky Chaudhary and her son had gone missing after the incident. Police teams carried out raids at multiple locations before tracing them and making the arrests on Tuesday.
A senior police officer said, “No group is allowed to take the law into its own hands. The arrests show that such acts will not be ignored.” The officer added that the investigation is still going on and more arrests may follow.
Community leaders said strict action is needed to protect minorities. A local Muslim activist said, “Indian Muslims believe in peace and the Constitution. When weapons are spread with words against us, the state must act fast. The arrests bring some relief.”
Police said both accused will be produced before a court and further questioning will take place to identify all those involved in planning and carrying out the event.
