Hindu teen issues bomb threat to Kumbh Mela using fake Muslim account online

As the Maha Kumbh Mela, also known as the festival of the Sacred Pitcher, continues in India's Uttar Pradesh, with hundreds of thousands of devotees gathering in Prayagraj, a Hindu teenager issued a bomb threat from a fake social media account with a Muslim name.

According to The Quint, the account, titled "Nasir Pathan," posted, “At least 1,000 people will be killed, such a blast will happen. Allah is great.”

After investigating, local police identified the culprit as 17-year-old Ayush Kumar Jaiswal, a Class 11 student.

Authorities stated that the teenager issued the threat as a prank following an argument with a classmate.

The incident highlighted the prevalence of fake social media accounts impersonating Muslims to spread hate and issue threats. Such accounts often use derogatory language to target non-Muslim communities.

India continues to grapple with widespread misinformation and propaganda against Muslims, further fueled by the hardline policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, which has been accused of perpetuating Islamophobia.

This incidents highlight the increasing communal polarisation in India under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s rule. Critics argue that the BJP's policies have emboldened far-right elements, further marginalising India's Muslim community and fueling interfaith conflicts

During his campaign, Modi referred to Muslims as "infiltrators" and "those who have many children." In one speech, he framed the election as a choice between "Ram Rajya" (the rule of the Hindu god Ram) and "Vote Jihad."