Odisha Police arrested two individuals in Cuttack on Saturday for allegedly raising “pro-Pakistan” slogans and circulating the video to incite communal disharmony.
The accused, identified as Sourav Kumar Sahoo (27) and Goutam Lenka (28), both residents of the Chauliaganj area, were charged with attempting to disrupt public peace and religious harmony, according to a police statement.
The investigation revealed that on May 15, the two, along with others, gathered near the Mahanadi embankment at Gandhipalli Gada, where Sourav Kumar Sahoo was heard shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” repeatedly. The act was recorded by Goutam Lenka on his mobile phone and later circulated across multiple WhatsApp groups.
Police stated the accused deliberately created and spread the video with malicious intent to provoke communal unrest. Given that Cuttack is a communally sensitive region, authorities emphasized that such actions could have sparked widespread tension and violence across the state and beyond.
Law enforcement has seized two mobile phones used in the incident. Both individuals face charges under sections related to promoting enmity between groups and attempting to incite violence.
The arrests come amid heightened concerns over digital content being misused to foment religious and social discord. Authorities reiterated their zero-tolerance stance toward actions that threaten public order.
