UP religious leader arrested for threatening Muslim women with rape

• Image Credit: Internet

• Apr 14, 2022 | Dhupali Das

Bajrang Muni Das, the head of Maharshi Shri Lakshman Das Udasin Ashram in Khairabad, was arrested by police from Sitapur, around 100 kilometres from the state capital Lucknow. 

Digital Desk: Bajrang Muni Das, a spiritual leader from Uttar Pradesh who threatened Muslim women with rape, has been arrested by Uttar Pradesh police. 

Bajrang Muni Das, the head of Maharshi Shri Lakshman Das Udasin Ashram in Khairabad, was arrested by police from Sitapur, around 100 kilometres from the state capital Lucknow. The arrest comes 11 days after he made his terrifying threats during a religious parade in front of the police.

In the two-minute video clip made outside a mosque on April 2, Das can be heard using the term "jihadi" to refer to a specific community and threatening them that if any guy from that community abuses any Hindu girl, he will rape their women. However, Das claimed his statement was misconstrued after the video went viral.

Since then, the video has gone viral, drawing a sharp comment even from the National Commission of Women. 

Following which, the Commission had demanded his arrest, claiming that the police could not remain silent over such remarks.

Bajrang Muni Das has been charged with hate speech, derogatory statements, and sexual harassment under sections of the Indian Penal Code after a First Information Report was filed against the seer. 

 Meanwhile, a video of Bajrang Muni apologising surfaced on social media hours after the case was filed. "My statement was presented incorrectly. I'm looking for an unconditional apology for the same, he stated.

There have been a series of outrageous hate speeches in recent months, including one in Haridwar, in which open calls to take up arms against Muslims and commit genocide were issued.

Notably, the action against Bajrang Muni was taken after five former chiefs of staff of the armed forces, as well as over a hundred other people, including bureaucrats and prominent citizens, wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the "open call of genocide of Indian Muslims," urging them to protect our country's integrity and security.

Yati Narsinghanand, the main accused in the case, who was released on bail more than a month ago, delivered another hate speech in Delhi, in which he called for the use of weapons against Muslims.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing petitions seeking investigations and action in hate speech cases, asked the Uttarakhand government today to file a status report by April 22.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared on behalf of the petitioners, stated that an event similar to Haridwar would be held in Himachal Pradesh on April 17.