Two individuals arrested after raising slogans during India-Pakistan cricket match; local anger leads to demolition of business in village
Team Clarion
SINDHUDURG — Tensions escalated in Malvan village of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, on Sunday during the India-Pakistan cricket match after two individuals allegedly raised slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad.” The incident occurred when Indian captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed, leading to protests and the arrest of the two individuals. On Monday, a bike rally organised by local residents intensified the situation, urging the authorities to take action.
The rally, reportedly led by workers from various political parties, demanded retribution, which resulted in the demolition of a Bhangar shop owned by the two men accused of the slogans. A bulldozer from the Zilla Parishad was used to destroy the business, identified as a scrap-selling operation.
Nilesh Rane, a local Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), voiced his support for the action on social media, tweeting: “A North Indian Muslim bhangar seller in Malon raised the slogan ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ during the India-Pakistan match yesterday. As a measure, we will expel these haram eaters from the district, but for now, the administration has destroyed their Bhangar business, for which we are grateful to the Zilla Parishad and the police administration.”
Although the identities of the individuals involved remain unconfirmed, MLA Rane’s tweet suggested that both were Muslim, further fuelling local outrage. Despite these developments, the police have yet to officially comment on the case, and no definitive report has emerged regarding the exact nature of the slogans raised.
The incident highlights the tense atmosphere surrounding the ongoing Champions Trophy, with the rivalry between India and Pakistan often spilling into local communities. Authorities have urged calm as investigations continue, though the local reaction has already intensified, with residents expressing their anger through protests and actions against the alleged offenders.
As the situation remains fluid, questions about the role of political influence and the appropriateness of the actions taken by the administration continue to be raised.
