A video of the incident has triggered concern; police have taken note and ordered an inquiry
LAKHIMPUR KHERI —A video circulating widely on social media has sparked controversy after it showed an elderly Muslim hawker being pressured to chant Hindu religious slogans by a youth in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district.
The incident, which reportedly took place in the Mohammadi area of the district, has led to criticism from members of the Muslim community, civil society groups and social media users, many of whom have called for strict action against those responsible.
In the video, the elderly man appears visibly uncomfortable as he is threatened by the youth who repeatedly asks him to chant Hindu religious slogans. The footage has been widely shared online, drawing attention to concerns about harassment based on religious identity.
According to people who shared the video, the youth recording the video is alleged to have links with a Hindutva organisation, although no official confirmation regarding his identity or affiliations has been issued by the authorities.
The video appears to show the elderly man requesting that the recording be stopped. At one point, he can be heard saying, “Stop recording the video, I will say it.”
Following repeated requests from the person behind the camera, the man is heard chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” The person recording then allegedly asks him to repeat additional religious slogans, including “Bam Bam Bhole” and “Jai Bhole Ki.”
The elderly man responds by saying that he has already repeated the slogans and questions why he is being asked to do so again and again.
Several social media users described the incident as humiliating and argued that no individual should be pressured to make religious statements against their wishes.
“This is not about any particular slogan. The issue is whether someone is being forced, intimidated or publicly humiliated because of their identity,” one social media user wrote while sharing the video.
The footage quickly attracted public attention, with many users tagging Uttar Pradesh Police and local authorities and demanding legal action. Some social media accounts claimed that the individual recording the video was a person named Rahul Rajput. However, officials have not confirmed the identity of the person seen in the video.
Following the online outcry, Kheri Police responded through social media and stated that the matter had been referred to the Station House Officer of Mohammadi Police Station for necessary action.
In its response, the police said that instructions had been issued for an inquiry and appropriate legal action, if required.
At the time of writing, neither the alleged victim nor the accused had been formally identified by the authorities. Police have also not released details regarding any complaint filed in connection with the incident.
The video has once again raised concerns among rights activists and community leaders about incidents in which individuals are allegedly targeted because of their religious identity. They have called for a fair investigation to establish the facts and determine whether any laws were violated.
Authorities are expected to examine the video, identify those involved and decide on further action based on the findings of the inquiry.
