For social media views, the pair indulges in reckless behaviour in Haridwar, wrongly dragging Muslims into controversy and damaging communal harmony
NEW DELHI — Two Hindu youths posing as “Saudi sheikhs” at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar were taken into police custody after their social media stunt created public anger and wrongly brought Muslims under suspicion, police officials confirmed.
The incident took place on Tuesday, when two men wearing traditional Arab robes were seen moving around the Har Ki Pauri area, recording videos and telling visitors that they were Saudi sheikhs. Many people gathered around them, clicking selfies and sharing clips online, where the videos quickly spread without verification.
Soon after, some Hindu religious leaders objected to their presence, claiming that the “sanctity” of the holy site was being disturbed. Protests followed, and demands were made for immediate action, with several social media posts openly blaming Muslims and portraying the act as an “Islamic intrusion”.
Police later clarified that the narrative was false.
After directions from the Senior Superintendent of Police, a special team from Kotwali Nagar police station examined CCTV footage, local intelligence inputs and technical data. The investigation led officers to Rawli Mahdood in the SIDCUL area, where the two youths were staying.
They were identified as Naveen Kumar and Prince, both residents of Haridwar and followers of the Hindu faith.
A senior police officer said, “The two individuals are not foreigners, nor are they Muslims. They are local youths who dressed in Arab clothes only to make videos for social media.”
During questioning, both admitted that they run a YouTube channel and regularly create videos in different costumes to gain views, likes and comments. They told police that similar videos shot earlier at Pentagon Mall and Shivalik Nagar had received good online response, which encouraged them to choose a high-profile religious location this time.
One police official stated, “They clearly said they selected Har Ki Pauri because it is crowded and sensitive, and they believed the content would go viral faster.”
The youths also accepted that their act could hurt religious feelings. “We did it only for views. We did not think about the consequences,” one of them told the police, while apologising and promising not to repeat such behaviour.
Police took action against them under the Police Act and issued a strict warning.
Importantly, Muslim voices in Haridwar expressed concern that yet again, Muslims were blamed without facts. A local Muslim social worker said, “Within hours, Muslims were being abused online. No one waited for the truth. This fake act caused real harm to our image.”
Another resident added, “Arab dress does not mean Muslim wrongdoing. These boys played with identity, and Muslims paid the price.”
Police also appealed to the public to act responsibly online. “People must not forward videos without checking facts. Those who spread misleading or sensational content will be identified and face action,” an official said.
The case highlights how social media stunts, when mixed with religious spaces and false identities, can fuel communal tension and unfairly target minorities. While police action brought out the truth, the damage caused by careless accusations remains a serious concern.
