The youth, 23-year-old Bapan Nandi, is from Udaipur. He is a known content creator and vlogging expert from the Khupilong area of Tripura. Many of his vlogs are immensely popular in the state
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A video of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders thrashing a Hindu youth in Tripura has gone viral on social media.
The BJP leaders were reportedly upset with 23-year-old Bapan Nandi. The youth from Udaipur, is a known content creator and vlogging expert from the Khupilong area of Tripura. Many of his vlogs are immensely popular in the state.
On Saturday, Nandi was called by the local BJP leader and Panchayat Up-pradhan Anu Mura Singh and other BJP leaders of the area, reports reaching here said on Tuesday.
They then thrashed the hapless youth, videographed the whole incident and made it viral.
Not stopping after beating the youth, Anu Mura Singh reportedly lodged a complaint against Nandi at a local police station. Following the complaint, the local police called Nandi for interrogation.
Nandi had done many videos on social awareness. Recently, Nandi posted a 4-minute video including congratulatory messages on Eid and a song surrounding the festival.
In the song, some young people are seen enjoying the festival, showcasing harmony between all religions. The song also urged people to stop fighting along communal lines.
Once the video was out, Nandi became an eyesore for the local BJP leaders and they called him to their office.
A female BJP leader allegedly tore open his shirt, grabbed him by the collar and thrashed him. She allegedly asked Nandi why he demeaned his Hindutva origins by acting like a Muslim youth in the video.
The video of the incident shows Nandi begging for mercy; however, the public torture continues despite his appeal.
Netizens of Tripura are unhappy over the incident and claim that such an incident fits the psychology of governance in Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat but not in Tripura.
Many youths of Tripura now have taken to vlogging and creating web and social media content. In this world, “Bapan Nandi Vlogs” is a recognisable name in Tripura; he also earns his living by creating such vlogs.
The song in the Eid video was choreographed by an Agartala-based individual. Nandi said that he merely acted in it. He further said he didn’t complain to the police as his attackers are influential people in the area.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) leader and MLA Jitendra Choudhury has strongly condemned the incident and said such things are not new in a BJP-ruled state.
“In each incident, the ruling party hooligans are involved.”