A Kanpur based man, reportedly a Bajrang Dal member, has threatened to kill Muslims who've offered prayers at the Gyanvapi Mosque. “We will behead them,” says the man identified using his Facebook profile as one Pandit Ravi Sonkar.

Hello @kanpurnagarpol @igrangekanpur @Uppolice @KanpurOuterpol @kanpurdehatpol
The guy from Bajrang Dal is threatning to K!|| Muslims who've offered prayed in Kashi #GyanvapiMosque pic.twitter.com/yuaTWUmAht

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 17, 2022

Sonkar, in his video clip now made public, is acting like Hindutva leaders he probably idolises, and says that Muslims had washed “dirty, hands and feet” and “washed mouths” above “the shivling”. He is referring to the structure found in the wazu area or pre prayer ablution tank. He then says in an attempted dramatic voice that “we will chop off those hands, feet, and necks.”

On Monday, the authorities conducting video survey of the Gyanvapi mosque concluded their proceedings, following which the advocate representing the Hindu petitioners in the case moved an application before the court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division) saying that a “Shivling”, a stone sculpture considered holy by Hindus, was discovered on the premises. Responding to the application, the judge immediately ordered the area sealed. 

While the right-wing eco system has continued to spread the ‘finding’ even though it is yet to be confirmed and so far remains only a claim, this hate monger is among the first to issue an open threat to Muslims who have worshipped at the mosque. His call to open violence against a community has been called out  by social media users. However Ravi Sonkar has perhaps now removed that video from his Facebook wall, perhaps fearing police action, after it was exposed on Twitter.

Related:

Did Aurangzeb also issue a ‘farman’ against razing temples?

Varanasi peace activists begin campaign to maintain communal harmony

Shivling ‘found’ on Gyanvapi mosque premises, court orders area sealed