Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old social media activist with affiliations to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was detained by West Bengal police in Gurgaon on charges of posting derogatory remarks against Muslims and Islam. Authorities have accused Panoli of spreading hate speech through inflammatory posts on various social media platforms, which they say threatened communal harmony in the region.
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The arrest comes amid heightened communal tensions following the unsuccessful “Operation Sindoor,” after which right-wing extremist rhetoric reportedly intensified. West Bengal police emphasized that Panoli’s detention was carried out under the law to preserve peace and prevent any further unrest.
The move has sparked a sharp political backlash. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have strongly opposed the arrest, calling it an infringement on freedom of speech. Prominent BJP figures, including Pawan Kalyan and Amit Malviya, have voiced support for Panoli. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, known for her vocal support of the Modi government, also condemned the arrest and demanded Panoli’s immediate release, terming it unjust.
This incident has added fuel to the ongoing political conflict between the ruling Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the BJP. The two parties have frequently clashed over communal and political issues, making such cases highly sensitive.
West Bengal police maintained that the arrest was necessary to uphold law and order and was not politically motivated.
