In a disturbing development that exposes the stark bias of the West Bengal administration, a 22-year-old Hindu law student, Sharmishtha, was arrested by Kolkata Police on Friday (30th May) — not for committing any act of violence or inciting terror, but for sharing a video that criticised the terrorist state of Pakistan. The irony? She had already deleted the video and issued an apology. Still, the state’s police department chose to act not as protectors of justice, but as enforcers of Islamist outrage.

Kolkata Police officers travelled a whopping 1500 kilometers from West Bengal to Gurgaon, just to arrest Sharmishtha — a student and social media influencer. Her only ‘crime’ was that she expressed her anger at Pakistan, a country that openly shelters Jihadists and celebrates bloodshed in the name of religion. Rather than shielding her freedom of expression — especially when she was being subjected to chilling ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ threats by Islamists — the West Bengal police seemingly chose their side. And it wasn’t justice.

According to official sources, a case was registered at the Garden Reach Police Station in Kolkata on May 15, based on a complaint from an outfit called the Rashidi Foundation. The group’s representative revealed the motive behind their FIR to The Sunday Guardian in chilling clarity:

“After Operation Sindoor, this girl was continuously posting anti-Pakistani comments on Instagram, which were gaining significant traction on social media. We had no problem with that. However, she suddenly posted deeply offensive messages against our Prophet. It was brought to our attention, and we decided that this could not go unchallenged.”

This quote lays bare the underlying bias — criticising Pakistan and supporting Hindu victims of Islamic terrorism is tolerated only until someone expresses outrage against the very ideology that fuels such extremism. The moment Sharmishtha mocked certain Islamic beliefs, her head was metaphorically placed on the chopping block.

The Kolkata police promptly slapped an FIR under sections 196(1)(a), 299, 352, and 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — laws concerning promotion of enmity, outraging religious sentiments, insult to provoke breach of peace, and incitement of public mischief. These very laws, curiously, remain unused when Hindus are mocked, their gods abused, or their temples desecrated. According to the police, Sharmishtha and her family had “absconded,” which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant. Eventually, she was apprehended in Gurgaon.

Reacting strongly to this blatant act of political appeasement, West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari made his stance crystal clear:

“This is another example of Mamata Banerjee and her police pandering to her Muslim vote bank. This is nothing but Muslim appeasement. Everyone across the world saw Sharmishta’s videos. There were protests, but only Mamata Banerjee went to the extent of sending police to Gurugram to arrest this young girl.”

He further added:

“Mamata and her police only become active if Muslims complain. She does nothing even when Hinduism is insulted. This is all politics. Multiple FIRs were filed against Mahua Moitra for derogatory comments about Goddess Kali. Was any action taken? What did their MP, Saayoni Ghosh, post about Mahadev? Was any action taken? There have been numerous FIRs against Firhad Hakim, but no action has been taken. Action is only taken against Sanatanis. Everyone has a licence to abuse Sanatana Dharma. This is appeasement politics.”

The events surrounding this case have now become a chilling example of the selective secularism practiced by Mamata Banerjee’s government — one where outrage is manufactured only when Muslims claim offence, while brutalities against Hindus, whether online or on the ground, are conveniently brushed aside.

📰 Mamata government and her commitment to her core vote bank

This entire episode has once again thrown a sharp spotlight on Mamata Banerjee’s loyalty to her primary voter base — a loyalty that seems to transcend logic, democratic values, or national sentiment. The so-called ‘Royal Bengal Tiger’, as Mamata proudly calls herself, has now shown how viciously she can pounce — not on enemies of the state, but on young Hindu girls whose only fault is their love for their country and pain for their community.

Sharmishtha, a patriotic 22-year-old, was deeply affected by the Pahalgam massacre, where Hindus were targeted and slaughtered by Jihadists. Her response, albeit emotionally charged, was aimed at a Pakistani troll who had the audacity to deny that the attack even had a religious motive. Like any ordinary Indian shaken by the horror, she lashed out. But unlike in any functioning democracy, her grief and patriotism were labelled a crime.

Her video — filled with anger, frustration, and yes, expletives — was a natural reaction to Islamic extremists peddling fake narratives online. She questioned the belief in 72 hoors and mocked the prophet, triggering Islamist mobs who consider any form of criticism to be blasphemy. In a country where free speech is supposedly protected, Sharmishtha’s emotionally driven response was instead treated like a criminal confession.

The hypocrisy here is too glaring to ignore. While Islamist mobs continue to call for public beheadings under the open sky, a Hindu woman who dares to question their ideology is dragged across state borders and arrested. Why? Because West Bengal’s lawbook apparently protects only one community’s ‘sentiments’, while Hindu lives and voices remain expendable.

This isn’t just a case of police overreach — it’s a message. And the message is loud and clear: If you’re Hindu, especially a vocal one, you must remain silent. Your voice is punishable. Your anger is illegal. Your grief is criminal.

📰 Islamists threatened her with calls for beheading, rape and murder after her social media response to a Pakistani troll, AIMIM spokesperson joined in targeting her too

Before her arrest, Sharmishta was subjected to a horrifying wave of online abuse, threats, and extremist intimidation — not by foreign terrorists, but by radicalised elements within India. It all began on 14th May 2025, when a video of her went viral. In the clip, the 22-year-old Hindu law student had responded angrily to a Pakistani troll who denied the brutal massacre of Hindus in Pahalgam, Kashmir — an attack where Muslim terrorists had verified the victims’ religion before killing them in cold blood.

The Pakistani user had mocked India and wrote:

“How did you confirmed that Pakistani opened fire your country? You country started war without any valid reason?”

This blatant denial enraged Sharmishta. She responded emotionally, exposing the religious bigotry behind the Pahalgam killings, which were confirmed by Indian security forces to have been executed by Hashim Must, a former Pakistani Army official, along with jihadis from The Resistance Front, a known proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba. They slaughtered 26 innocent people after confirming they were non-Muslims.

In her reply, Sharmishta mocked the Pakistani troll, criticised the Islamic concept of 72 hoors and questioned the silence over Pakistan’s repeated terror attacks on Indian soil. She asked bluntly if Indian forces were expected to do nothing in the face of such horror. Her video was emotionally charged and used harsh language, but it was directed at Pakistani terrorists and their twisted beliefs, not innocent citizens. Still, Islamists within India wasted no time twisting the narrative.

Sharmishta’s clip was stripped of context and weaponised by radical elements, who claimed she had insulted Islam. What followed was a tsunami of threats: death threats, rape threats, and multiple “Sar Tan Se Juda” calls. Her social media accounts were flooded with violent abuse. She became a target of a coordinated campaign of hate, simply for speaking up for murdered Hindus.

One such threat came from Mohammad Shadab Khan, who declared publicly:

“Insult to the Prophet Muahmmad (SAW) Will Not Be Tolerated, Action Must Be Taken! An Social Media Influencer named @Sharmishta__19 has made a vile and hateful remark against our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) under the guise of targeting Pakistan. Let it be clear, no political agenda justifies blasphemy. We strongly demand that @KolkataPolice immediately register a case and initiate strict action against this hate-monger. Tomorrow, a formal complaint will be sent to both the Chief Minister’s @MamataOfficial Office and the @BengalGovernor demanding accountability.”

Adding fuel to the fire, The Observer Post, an Islamist propaganda portal notorious for spreading lies in the name of Muslim victimhood, wrote:

“A Twitter user named @/Sharmishta__19 has made repeated hateful comments against Prophet Muhammad. Netizens are demanding immediate legal action against her under relevant BNS sections.”

This was not merely an online outrage. It snowballed into a dangerous campaign backed by political voices. AIMIM leader Waris Pathan joined the mob, escalating the threats and adding political pressure:

“This is @Sharmishta__19 who has used very derogatory words about our Prophet (pbuh), which no Muslim will tolerate. When the entire country is standing together at this time, by speaking such language, she is trying to spread communal tension in the country. We request the Home Minister of India @HMOIndia to immediately take her into custody and take strict legal action.”

This targeting bore a chilling resemblance to the Nupur Sharma episode of 2022 — a time when yet another Hindu woman was hounded for stating facts. Sharma had responded to a derogatory comment about a Shivling, yet it was her who faced rape threats, death threats, and calls for beheading. Her remarks, taken out of context and circulated by Mohammed Zubair of AltNews, sparked global outrage — not for the bigotry that provoked her, but for her daring to reply.

Sharmishta faced the same hell. A young woman stood up against a Pakistani troll denying a terrorist massacre of Hindus. In return, she received beheading threats. Her video became the Islamist mob’s justification for outrage. The irony was cruel — Hindus were murdered after their faith was confirmed by jihadis, and when a Hindu girl reacted with fury, Islamists turned themselves into the victims.

Desperate and surrounded by abuse, Sharmishta shared screenshots of the most horrific threats she was receiving. She poured her heart out in a post on X (formerly Twitter):

“I’M SORRY… Dear Indians, I have been trolled, threatened to be attacked and to be rap*d, murdered and taught a lesson for venting my anger towards Radical Pakistani terrorists who killed my innocent countrymen in the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. Mene wo sab saha, kyunki mere liye mera desh pehle aata hai.”

These weren’t hollow threats. They were chilling, detailed, and widespread. Under immense pressure, Sharmishta did what few would expect after enduring such abuse — she issued an unconditional apology, hoping to calm the storm.

“I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY whatever was put are my personal feelings and i never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody so if anybody is hurt I’m sorry for the same. I expect co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, i will be cautious in my public post. Again please accept my apologies,” Sharmishta had said.

But even that wasn’t enough.

📰 Hindu lives do not matter in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal

The arrest of Sharmishtha did not come as a shock to many who had been watching the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government repeatedly bend over backwards to appease Islamist sentiments. Her administration, now notorious for its duplicity, has shown time and again how Hindu lives and freedoms mean little under her rule. The case of Sharmishtha was not the beginning — it was just another addition to the growing list of betrayals.

This is the same West Bengal where Islamist mobs ran riot in Murshidabad and Sandeshkhali, committing unspeakable crimes while the state remained frozen in silence. On 11th April, the Muslim-majority Murshidabad district witnessed large-scale violence under the pretense of protests against the new Waqf Amendment Act. What followed was not protest — it was persecution. Hindu families lost their homes, their belongings were destroyed, their water tanks poisoned, and threats of rape and death became their new reality.

Multiple Hindu women came forward, their voices trembling but firm, narrating what had happened to them. These women were not only beaten but were asked to trade their dignity for their family's safety. The Islamist mobs told them to get raped to protect their children, demanded that they erase their sindoor, and convert to Islam. This wasn’t a fringe act of fanaticism; it was a systematic effort to break down an entire community through humiliation and fear.

But the betrayal did not stop there.

In February 2024, another tragedy unfolded in Sandeshkhali, a region in the North 24 Parganas district. Here too, Hindu women led massive protests against the crimes of Sheikh Shahjahan, a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, and his TMC cohorts Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar. The stories that came out of Sandeshkhali were chilling. Married Hindu women were reportedly picked up based on their looks, then raped repeatedly by these TMC leaders “until they were satisfied.” Husbands were told they had no “right” over their wives, and if they resisted, they were brutally beaten.

Despite these crimes being out in the open, the West Bengal Police showed no urgency in arresting the accused. In stark contrast, the same police force crossed 1,500 km to arrest Sharmishtha over a now-deleted video that merely criticised Pakistan. The comparison is damning — a state that jumps into action when Islamists feel offended, yet ignores Hindus even when their women are raped and threatened.

Mamata Banerjee herself, a woman in power, went as far as downplaying the rape cases, referring to them as ‘minor incidents’. The Calcutta High Court had to intervene, ordering a CBI investigation, which the state government fought tooth and nail to block.

This pattern has become frighteningly predictable. Hindus in West Bengal live under the shadow of violence, their plight met with silence, while a single allegation from an Islamist lobby prompts immediate, harsh action. It’s no longer about justice — it’s about appeasement. And the Hindus of West Bengal, along with voices like Sharmishtha’s, are the ones paying the price.

📰 Blasphemy by proxy: Mamata’s Bengal criminalises dissent, shields Islamist violence

The duplicity in West Bengal has now turned into a well-oiled system — a system where dissent from Hindus is criminalised, while Islamist violence is given a free pass. The arrest of Sharmishtha, a young woman who had already deleted her video and apologised, stands in sharp contrast to the state’s inaction against actual criminals roaming freely in Sandeshkhali.

The law in Mamata’s Bengal does not act equally. Men accused of rape, assault, rioting, and land grabs have not seen even a single police summon, while a student criticising Pakistan on Instagram was hunted down across state lines. Is this how democracy works? Is this what secular governance looks like?

Sharmishtha received death and rape threats from hundreds online, yet not one of those accounts faced police action. In a true democracy, such threats are criminal offences — irrespective of the religion of the perpetrator. But in Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal, it appears that if you belong to the Islamist lobby and scream loud enough, not only will you not face consequences, the state will punish your target instead.

What is unfolding before the country is the institutionalisation of blasphemy laws by proxy. Criticism of Pakistan or Islamic fundamentalism is now equated with hate speech, while mockery of Hindu deities, beliefs, or festivals continues unchecked. No FIRs are registered. No arrests are made. The law here bends only in one direction.

This is not just dangerous for Bengal — it is dangerous for India as a whole. The Constitution guarantees every Indian the right to speak, the right to question, and the right to live without fear. But in today’s Bengal, those rights are conditional — filtered through the lens of religious appeasement and political convenience.

It raises a serious question that Mamata Banerjee must answer:

Do you serve the Constitution of India or a parallel Islamist consensus that dictates what can and cannot be said or done?
Right now, the answer is terrifyingly obvious.

Unless this political hypocrisy is exposed and punished at the ballot, unless voters stand up for their freedoms, Bengal will continue sinking — from being the land of revolution and reason to a playground of fear and Islamist manipulation.

India must wake up before more voices like Sharmishtha’s are choked in silence.