Hindu extremist threatens Muslim meat vendors in eastern India
Video shows Bajrang Dal supporter warning Muslim traders to shut businesses or leave Hindu-majority neighborhood in Kolkata
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A video circulating on social media shows a supporter of the Hindu extremist group Bajrang Dal threatening Muslim meat vendors in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, warning them to shut their businesses or leave the neighborhood because it is predominantly Hindu.
The incident reportedly occurred in Jadavpur, a suburb of Kolkata in the eastern state of West Bengal. According to Siasat.com, the man confronted vendors selling halal meat and demanded that they either stop operating or relocate to a Muslim-majority area.
In the video, the man is heard asking the vendors why they were selling and slaughtering meat in a locality where, he claimed, most residents were Hindus. He also declared that “the days of the Trinamool Congress are over,” referring to the party that previously governed West Bengal, before telling the vendors to stop selling halal meat and leave the area.
The individual further suggested that the vendors move to neighborhoods with larger Muslim populations instead of continuing to operate in the predominantly Hindu locality.
It was not immediately clear when the video was recorded, and authorities had not publicly commented on the incident at the time of publication.
The confrontation has renewed concerns over a pattern of intimidation targeting Muslim traders and street vendors in parts of India.
In recent years, Hindu extremist groups have increasingly targeted Muslim-owned businesses through campaigns, public confrontations and calls for economic boycotts, particularly over the sale of halal products and meat.
The incident also comes amid growing communal tensions in West Bengal, where rights advocates and local media have reported an increase in incidents involving threats or harassment directed at Muslims.
The latest video has drawn criticism on social media, with many users questioning why private individuals were attempting to dictate where vendors could legally operate rather than leaving such matters to municipal authorities and law enforcement.
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