Bengal: Jhalmuri vendor, who treated PM Modi with local snack, gets death threats from abroad
Kolkata, May 22
In a startling development, the Jhalmuri vendor, who treated Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the popular local snack in Jhargram during the Bengal Assembly election campaign, is getting death threats from unknown international numbers. The vendor claimed that he was getting threatening calls from Pakistan and Bangladesh on a daily basis for the past few days.
The Jhalmuri vendor shot into the limelight and became a national figure overnight after PM Modi took a brief halt at his shop during the high-voltage campaign, to get a taste of the local Bengali snack. The light-hearted exchange between the jhalmuri vendor and PM Modi became the talk of the town and also hogged the national headlines, while he became a 'star jhalmuri vendor'.
The overnight fame has now come to haunt him.
The shopkeeper named Vikram Sao says that he is worried for himself and his family as he fears that the callers may conspire to do something sinister to harm him.
Speaking to IANS, he said, "I am getting repeated threat calls from Pakistan via video and phone calls. They are threatening to blow me up with bombs."
"Those making video calls to me are making frightening gestures to frighten me and also brandishing weapons, and they warned me that you will face dire consequences," he added.
Vikram Sao said that he didn't pick up many calls, but the phone didn't stop ringing. He said that the callers are calling him names and also hurling expletives.
"There are threatening calls from Bangladesh, who are trying to terrorise me. They ask me, Are you alive or dead?" he stated.
"I have also received WhatsApp messages, asking that you will be killed in a bomb explosion," he further said.
According to him, the callers dishing out threats to him didn't speak anything about his 'connect' with the Prime Minister, but the threatening calls started only after PM Modi took a pause at his shop to relish Jhalmuri.
Vikram further said that the callers first offered a religious greeting and then threatened to kill him.
He and his family are alarmed over threat calls from international numbers; however, the police have launched a probe after they escalated the matter.
He has also been provided with security cover, with policemen guarding him.
When questioned whether he has any specific appeal to make to the Prime Minister, he said that the government should provide him with adequate safety cover.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone living abroad, it's heartbreaking to see a hardworking man threatened like this. Vikram Sao is a symbol of India's street food culture - warm, authentic, and welcoming. The fact that he's now scared for his family's safety is a stark reminder that ordinary citizens can be targeted for the most innocent acts. I hope the police catch these criminals soon and that Vikram gets proper security.
It's sad but also predictable these days. Anyone seen with our leaders becomes a target for fringe elements from across the border. But come on, threatening a jhalmuriwala? That's cowardice at its peak. These callers don't have the courage to say anything to the PM directly, so they target a common man. Stay strong Vikram bhai, India is with you. And police should trace these calls - don't let them get away.
While I condemn these threats completely, I also think there's a larger issue here. Why does any ordinary citizen need to fear for their life just because they interacted with a politician? This shows how polarized our society has become. But kudos to the police for responding quickly. I hope Vikram gets round-the-clock protection until those making threats are arrested. And yes, please let's eat more jhalmuri and not let terrorists dictate our lives.
This is just pathetic. These threats are not just against one vendor - they're an intimidation tactic against India as a whole. The PM enjoying local food is a normal gesture, but extremists can't handle that. Stay safe, Vikram. I hope the government provides him with proper security and also fast-tracks investigation. No one should have to live in fear for serving a snack. Sad days indeed.
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