Following the failure of Operation Sundoor, Indian extremists have reacted in panic. In a recent development, Sharmistha Panoli, a social media activist associated with the RSS, was arrested by the police in West Bengal for posting offensive content against Muslims and Islam on social media.
According to private TV channel Samaa, Sharmistha Panoli, known for her affiliation with the RSS, began sharing derogatory remarks targeting Muslims and Islam on her social media accounts. The West Bengal Police apprehended her from Gurugram.
The arrest has sparked a wave of protests from BJP-aligned politicians, who have demanded her immediate release. Notably, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, a close ally of the Modi government, has also joined the chorus, calling for Sharmistha Panoli’s release.
The ruling party in West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, has been fiercely opposed to the BJP’s extremism and has made several efforts to combat the party’s influence in the region. The arrest of Sharmistha Panoli has added to the ongoing tensions between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress, as the former accuses the latter of silencing dissent and stifling free speech.
As of now, Sharmistha Panoli remains in custody, and investigations into her posts are ongoing.
The case has raised concerns about the rise of extremist rhetoric on social media and the role of political groups in amplifying hate speech.