The arrest of a young Muslim woman, Musu Yesmin, has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates, who raised concerns about freedom of expression and the speed of the police action
NEW DELHI — Police arrested a Muslim social media content creator in West Bengal’s Malda district on Saturday for allegedly making abusive remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a video. The arrest followed a complaint by local BJP leaders who accused her of using offensive language while speaking about border fencing and illegal infiltration.
Musu Yesmin’s arrest has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates, who raised concerns about freedom of expression and the speed of the police action.
The young woman, known for her bold social and political videos, was taken into custody from Mubarakpur under the Chanchal police station in Malda. Local sources said she routinely posts videos on social and political issues.
Border Fencing Video Sparks Complaint
According to police, the controversy began after Yesmin posted a video on the installation of barbed-wire fencing along the India-Bangladesh border to curb illegal infiltration. The video allegedly contained abusive and objectionable comments directed at Amit Shah.
After the clip circulated on social media, local BJP leaders filed a written complaint at Chanchal Police Station. Police arrested Yesmin within hours and began an investigation. She was later produced before the appropriate court.
BJP workers assembled outside the police station as she was taken to court, demanding strict legal action.
BJP Sees Shift in Content
Local BJP leader Sandeep Pandey said Yesmin’s content had changed over time. “Initially, this content creator used to make good videos. Suddenly, she started creating anti-India content,” he said.
BJP leaders also claimed the video might not have been made independently and urged police to probe whether “anti-national forces” were involved in its creation.
Police said the investigation is continuing and all angles, including the motive behind the video, are being examined. No further arrests have been announced so far.
Human rights activist Rahul Chakraborty was quoted by The Observer Post as saying that the arrest raised “serious questions regarding the scope of civil rights and freedom of speech.”
“Political criticism and the evaluation of the performance of public representatives form the bedrock of any healthy, vibrant democracy. However, the manner in which a content creator was arrested at the Chanchal police station in Malda — merely 12 hours after a complaint was filed — raises several serious questions,” Chakraborty said.
He added that such actions could deter public criticism of those in power. “The current BJP government in the state is indirectly signalling that criticising those in the corridors of power can result in imprisonment. This tendency to stifle dissent through the sheer force of power is tarnishing the democratic character of India,” he said.
