In separate incidents in Odisha, Muslim street vendors faced harassment and assault by right-wing groups, sparking concerns over communal targeting under the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
In one widely circulated video, a Muslim vendor was confronted by an angry Hindutva-aligned mob.
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The aggressor brandished a sharp wooden object near the vendor’s face, abused him profanely—including derogatory remarks about his mother—and demanded he chant “Jai Shri Ram.”
The vendor, visibly intimidated, complied to de-escalate the situation. The episode highlighted coercive tactics used to enforce religious slogans.
In another case from Mayurbhanj district, members of Bajrang Dal allegedly brutally assaulted a Muslim street vendor.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUSasnGiS_b/?igsh=MjEyeWY1c215aHl3
He was labeled a “Bangladeshi,” beaten, and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram” amid verbal abuse and physical violence. Reports indicate the victim was targeted based on his identity, with sticks and other objects used in the attack.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com. Read the full story here.