Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Mahal Balmukundacharya from Jaipur’s Hawa constituency was booked late on Friday night for allegedly placing a poster reading ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ within the premises of a local mosque during a protest against the Pahalgam terror attack, according to police officials.
Following the incident, members of the Muslim community gathered in large numbers in the Walled City area to voice their protest. In response, police forces from five police stations were deployed to manage the situation and maintain order.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Manak Chowk Circle), Hari Shankar Sharma, stated that the poster was put up around 9 pm inside the mosque by the MLA and a few BJP workers following a protest rally.
The act reportedly enraged members of the local Muslim community, who swiftly assembled in protest, demanding the immediate arrest of the MLA for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments.
A significant police presence was established across the area to prevent any escalation. Senior officers also rushed to the scene to pacify the crowd and restore calm.
Balmukundacharya later defended his actions, stating that the protest was against terrorism and Pakistan, and that similar posters had also been displayed along the pavements during the rally.
According to the police, the BJP and the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) unit had organised a protest march earlier that evening in condemnation of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 people were killed and several others injured in the Baisaran meadow, situated about five kilometres from Pahalgam town in Anantnag district.
During the rally, demonstrators also gathered in Jaipur’s Badi Chaupar area, burnt posters, and chanted slogans against Pakistan and terrorism.
Meanwhile, a video circulated on social media purportedly shows MLA Balmukundacharya, former MLA Ashok Parnami, and a few BJP leaders pasting the contentious poster inside the mosque and trampling another similar poster on the floor near a bathroom.
Another video, reportedly showing the group chanting “Jai Shri Ram” outside the mosque, was also widely shared. However, the authenticity of these videos remains unverified.
Senior officials, including Jaipur Commissioner Biju George Joseph, Additional CP Hari Shankar Sharma, and Deputy Police Commissioner (North) Rashi Dogra Dudi, arrived at the scene to defuse tensions and oversee the situation.
Police pickets were set up across sensitive parts of the city, with three companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), one Special Task Force (STF) unit, and two regular police companies deployed for security.
Congress MLAs from Adarsh Nagar and Kishanpole constituencies, Rafeek Khan and Amin Kagzi, also reached the protest site to engage in dialogue with the crowd and help restore peace.
After nearly three hours of negotiation, the protestors filed a formal complaint against Balmukundacharya, following which the crowd gradually dispersed and normalcy returned to the area. Police forces, however, continued to monitor the situation closely.
An FIR has been registered at Manak Chowk police station against Balmukundacharya and other BJP workers involved. Jaipur’s Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Rameshwar Singh, confirmed that legal action has been initiated and that all senior officials remain in the field to oversee the security arrangements.
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