Security has been tightened at a roadside ‘jhalmuri’ stall in West Bengal’s Jhargram town after its owner allegedly received death threats following a recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, police said on Saturday.
The stall owner, Bikram Kumar Sau, had come into the spotlight after Modi stopped at his shop near Raj College More on April 19 and ate the popular street snack while returning from an election rally during the West Bengal Assembly campaign.
According to police, Sau lodged a written complaint at the Jhargram police station alleging that he had been receiving threatening phone calls and messages since May 17 from individuals claiming to be from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The callers allegedly threatened to kill him and blow up his stall using bombs, police said.
Sau also claimed that during a WhatsApp video call, some unidentified persons brandished firearms and issued threats.
“I was terrified after receiving repeated threats. My family members were also scared, and I had shut the shop for a few days,” Sau told reporters on Saturday after reopening the stall.
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Police said an investigation had been launched and cybercrime experts were assisting in tracing the origin of the calls and messages.
“A complaint has been registered and all aspects are being examined. We are verifying the source of the calls and messages,” a senior police officer said.
In view of the threats, authorities have deployed four Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel outside the stall and installed CCTV cameras in the surrounding area.
“The safety of the businessman and his family has been ensured. Necessary preventive measures have been taken to avoid any untoward incident,” the officer added.
Following PM Modi’s visit during the election campaign, the small roadside stall had drawn widespread public attention, with locals and visitors flocking to the shop.
The BJP recently swept the Junglemahal region, where Jhargram is located, and formed the government in West Bengal after defeating the Trinamool Congress.
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