NEW DELHI – Video of a Hindu monk openly threatening to abduct and rape Muslim women has sparked massive outrage amidst spike in violent hate crimes by Hindu extremists against Muslims in the country. The video clip which has by now gone viral on social media evoked instant anger and outrage among Muslims in particular and public in general.
Seated comfortably in a vehicle, the saffron clad monk can be seen in the video clip addressing his supporters gathered outside a mosque in Khairabad area of Uttar Pradesh’s Sitapur district, 100 kilometres from state capital Lucknow. The speech is said to have been made on April 2.
TRIGGER WARNING!
A Mahant in front of a Masjid in the presence of Police personals warns that He would K!dnap Muslim Women and ₹@pe them in Open.According to the locals near Sheshe wali Masjid, Khairabad, Sitapur. This happened on 2nd Apr 2022, 2 PM. @sitapurpolice @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/wkBNLnqUW0
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) April 7, 2022
The video which was put out on Twitter by Alt News journalist Mohammaed Zubair on Thursday shows the monk, identified as Bajrang Muni Das, making the communally and sexually incendiary comments on a microphone.
He then says that if he finds Muslims harassing Hindu women in Khairabad, “I will get your daughter and daughter-in-law out of your home and rape her,” Das declares to the chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’, a slogan raised in reverence of a Hindu deity but has lately become a war cry for the Hindu nationalists.
Clarion India spoke to officials at Khairabad police station for their comment on the incident. The officials said they have taken a note of the video and are looking into the matter.
“We are in talks with higher ups and will let you know our next move after some time,” said in-charge of the station.
Notably, a cop in khakis can also be seen in the hate video. Das also alleges that a plot to murder him has been hatched and claims that Rs 28 lakh has been collected for this.
The Sitapur Police said on Twitter also that they are probing the matter and assured that action would be taken based on facts.
Messages of anger and outrage from social media users and activists are pouring in against the open call for rape of women on. Most of them are demanding strict legal action against the monk.
What’s intriguing is that the offender is not a new player in the Hindutva ecosystem. He runs a YouTube channel where he makes hate speeches exhorting his supporters to target Muslims. Previously He had claimed that he was attacked by some men over allegations of land grab.
This article first appeared on clarionindia.net