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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
NHRC issues notice to West Bengal DGP to ensure Sharmistha Panoli's safety
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Director general of police of West Bengal to ensure the safety of Sharmistha Panoli, a social media influencer and law student arrested over her alleged communal remarks linked to Operation Sindoor, said Priyank Kanoongo, a member of the human rights body. The action was taken in view of the multiple 'rape and death threats' against Panoli, Kanoongo told ANI. He also said that the human rights body received a complaint from the Legal Rights Observator alleging that proper legal procedures were not followed during Panoli's arrest. Panoli was arrested from Haryana's Gurugram by the West Bengal Police on Friday, May 30, over her contentious post. She has been sent to judicial custody till June 13. "We received a complaint from an organisation called Legal Rights Observatory regarding a law student, who was arrested by West Bengal Police from Haryana in the middle of the night over an allegedly objectionable social media post. The complaint alleges that proper legal procedures were not followed during her arrest and transit. It also states that the girl has received threats from radical Islamists, including rape and death threats," Kanoongo told ANI. He also said that the NHRC has reached out to the Haryana government as well to determine whether all legal procedures were followed properly or not during Panoli's arrest before deciding the next course of action. 'We have issued a notice to the Chief Secretary and DGP of West Bengal, directing them to ensure her safety, especially as she is now in judicial custody. Additionally, we have sought clarification from the Haryana government on whether all legal protocols were followed. Based on the responses, we will decide the next course of action,' he said. A police complaint has been filed against a 30-year-old Kolkata resident, whose May 14 complaint led to the arrest of a 22-year-old law student for a social media post from Gurugram, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Free Speech Under Fire: BJP Accuses TMC of 'Double Standards' After Sharmistha Panoli's Arrest
BJP leader Agnimitra Paul has come out in strong support of Instagram influencer Sharmistha Panoli after her arrest by the West Bengal Police for alleged communal remarks. Paul accused the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government of silencing Hindu voices and operating with double standards when it comes to free speech. Echoing Kangana Ranaut's warning that Bengal may soon resemble North Korea, BJP leaders are now demanding constitutional rights and freedom of speech for all communities. Watch the full video to understand why the BJP believes Bengal is becoming a dictatorship for Hindus.#sharmisthapanoli #agnimitrapaul #bjpvsTMC #westbengalnews #hinduvsmuslim #freespeech #mamata #tmcnews #kanganaranaut #northkorea #bjpstatement #influencerarrest #westbengalpolitics #toi #toibharat
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Why silent when Sanatan Dharma is insulted?: Pawan Kalyan slams TMC, Bengal Police over arrest of influencer Sharmishta Panoli
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has strongly criticised the West Bengal Police following the arrest of social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli . He said that "secularism must be a two-way street" and called for fairness in how such cases are a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pawan Kalyan said, "During Operation Sindoor , Sharmishta, who is a law student, spoke out. Her words were regrettable and hurt some people. She accepted her mistake, deleted the video, and apologised. The West Bengal Police acted quickly and took action against her. But what about the deep pain caused when elected leaders and MPs from TMC mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is insulted and called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?"He added, "Blasphemy should always be condemned! Secularism is not a shield for some and a weapon for others. It must work both ways. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Please act justly for everyone."Actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also spoke out in support of Sharmishta Panoli. She urged the authorities to release the 22-year-old influencer, who was sent to judicial custody by a Kolkata court after her arrest in Gurugram , said, "Harassing someone in the name of law and order is not right. She apologised and deleted the post, yet she is being put in prison, tortured, her career ruined, and her character questioned. This should never happen to any daughter."She added, "I urge the West Bengal government not to turn the state into North Korea. Everyone has democratic rights. She has apologised for her comments, which were general and in the kind of language today's generation uses normally, both in English and Hindi. She should be released soon because she is very young and has her whole career and life ahead of her."Sharmishta Panoli, a law student from Pune, Maharashtra, was arrested by Kolkata Police on Friday night from Gurugram. She was produced before the Alipore Court in Kolkata on Saturday, which sent her to judicial custody for 14 to Kolkata Police, several attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family, but they could not be reached as they were absconding. Following this, the court issued an arrest warrant, leading to her detention in police said, "This case relates to an Instagram video by Sharmishta Panoli that hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. An FIR was registered at Garden Reach Police Station. Attempts to serve notice as per the law were unsuccessful as the accused and her family were absconding. Subsequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by the court, based on which she was arrested from Gurugram yesterday."It is important to note that Panoli had deleted the controversial video and apologised on 15 from ANI
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Secularism must be two-way street: Pawan Kalyan on arrest of social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli
Amravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], June 1 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan slammed West Bengal Police over the arrest of social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli by the West Bengal police, saying that 'secularism must be a two-way street'. In a post on X, Pawan Kalyan said, 'During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologised. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?' 'Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all,' the post further read. Earlier, Actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut on Sunday urged for the release of 22-year-old influencer Sharmishta Panoli, who was remanded to judicial custody by a court in Kolkata, a day after West Bengal Police arrested her from her Gurugram in Haryana. 'Harassing someone in the name of law and order is not good. When someone has apologised and deleted the post, but putting her in prison, torturing her, ending her career and raising questions on her character is very wrong. This should not happen with any daughter,' Kangana told ANI. Further, she said, 'I urge the West Bengal government not to try to make the state into North Korea. Everyone has democratic rights. She has apologised for her indecent remarks. She had said everything in general and today's generation uses such language very normally- both in English and in Hindi. She should be released soon because she is a very young woman. She has her whole career and life ahead of her...' Kolkata Police arrested Panoli from Haryana's Gurugram on Friday night. She is a law student in Pune, Maharashtra. On Saturday, Panoli was produced before the Alipore Court in Kolkata, which remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days. According to the Kolkata Police, several attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family, but the attempts were unsuccessful because Panoli and her family absconded. Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued by the court, based on which she was arrested from Gurugram on Friday. 'The case relates to an Instagram video by a lady named Sharmishta Panoli that hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. FIR was lodged in Garden Reach Police Station. Attempts to serve notice as per law couldn't be successful since the accused, with her family absconded. Subsequently, warrant of arrest was issued by the court of law, based on which she was arrested from Gurgaon yesterday,' as per the Kolkata Police. However, Panoli had deleted the video and issued an apology on May 15. (ANI)
India Today
3 days ago
- India Today
Arms smuggler from Bihar arrested at Bengal hotel during police raid
A Special Task Force (STF) team of the West Bengal Police conducted a raid on a hotel in Murshidabad and arrested a 42-year-old man in possession of illegal on intelligence, the police raided Hotel Rajanigandha, located near the New Farakka Bus Stand in Murshidabad, on the operation, the STF arrested Satyajeet Ghosh, a resident of Bihar's Bhagalpur district. During the search, four semi-automatic pistols of 7.65 calibre and four pistol magazines were recovered from his hotel A case under the Arms Act was registered at the STF West Bengal accused was produced before the Bidhannagar court on Sunday, which granted a 14-day police remand for further investigation revealed that Ghosh was allegedly involved in an inter-state arms smuggling racket. He had allegedly travelled to Murshidabad with the intent of meeting clients and selling illegal investigations were underway to identify others involved in the arms smuggling racket. IN THIS STORY#Bihar#West Bengal
