In Bihar’s Bhagalpur, Arrest after Hindutva group with Israeli flags target mosque during procession : Valley Vision

In Bhagalpur, Bihar, a man was arrested after being filmed climbing the dome of a mosque to hoist a saffron flag during the Kali Visarjan Yatra. The incident unfolded on Saturday evening near Tamtam Chowk, where members of a Hindutva group were seen waving both saffron and Israeli flags.

The act has sparked widespread outrage.

In the viral video, the man climbing the dome has been identified as Shivam Kumar, who was seen scaling the mosque’s dome to plant the saffron flag while the crowd cheered him on. The situation escalated even more due to the music being played during the procession, which included derogatory songs targeting the Muslim community.

As the video spread across social media, police deployed additional forces, including units from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), to maintain order and reassure residents. On 4th November Kumar was arrested, with police filing an FIR against him. He is now facing charges under Section 88, which addresses actions that could disturb public peace.

In a statement on X, Bhagalpur police confirmed Kumar’s arrest and emphasized their commitment to keeping the peace. The police have assured swift action, stating that they had resolved the matter within 24 hours and vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly.

It is feared that the incident can lead to deeper divisions in a city still healing from past communal violence. Bhagalpur had suffered riots in the year 1989 during the JanmaBhoomi movement causing widespread mayhem and leading to the death of at least 1,000 people.

The presence of the Israeli flag during the procession has also raised eyebrows, prompting discussions about the motivations behind the act. However, authorities are yet to comment on any broader implications regarding the use of the Israeli flag during the procession.