BJP post video showing Himanta Sarma using rifle to shoot targets wearing Muslim caps
A social media post shared by the official X handle of BJP Assam has triggered criticism as post features a video of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma using an air rifle to shoot at targets shown wearing Muslim caps. The visuals are overlaid with clips from the film No Mercy and carry the caption “Point blank shot”. Critics say the video appears to symbolise aggressive anti-immigrant messaging directed at Muslims.
The post surfaced at a time when Sarma has made a series of public statements targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam. He recently said he would “make the Miya community suffer” and directed BJP workers to challenge Bengali Muslim voters during the verification of electoral rolls. These remarks had already drawn criticism, including from former bureaucrats who urged the Supreme Court to intervene, alleging violations of constitutional values.
Point blank shot... pic.twitter.com/lDxSFHqGNq
— BJP Assam Pradesh (@BJP4Assam) February 7, 2026
The BJP Assam post has since sparked widespread outrage online. Many users have described it as hate speech that encourages violence against Muslims. Others, however, defended the post, calling it a satirical reference to the government’s actions against illegal Bangladeshi migrants. The video has crossed 2.7 lakh views and the replies remain deeply polarised.
Responding to the post, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose wrote, “Shameful. Whoever has made this ad needs to be IMMEDIATELY arrested. You need to act @narendramodi @AmitShah @AshwiniVaishnaw”.
Shameful. Whoever has made this ad šš½ needs to be IMMEDIATELY arrested . You need to act @narendramodi @AmitShah @AshwiniVaishnaw https://t.co/VX5Axd1wKe
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) February 7, 2026
Journalist Rana Ayyub also criticised the post, saying, “Hate to amplify this but just exposes the depravity from the top. BJP twitter handle shares a meme of Himanta Biswa firing a bullet at Muslims while Prime Minister Modi talks about a grand reception in muslim majority, Malaysia”.
Hate to amplify this but just exposes the depravity from the top. BJP twitter handle shares a meme of Himanta Biswa firing a bullet at Muslims while Prime Minister Modi talks about a grand reception in muslim majority, Malaysia https://t.co/DIRvx7l1Py
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) February 7, 2026
The BJP Assam handle has not responded publicly to the criticism so far.
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Family of injured driver in murder of Suvendu's aide seeks exemplary punishment
Kolkata (PTI): The family of Buddhabeb Bera, the driver injured in the shooting that killed BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath, demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible and urged the new government to ensure such incidents do not happen in West Bengal.
Rath was shot dead in Madhyamgram near Kolkata on Wednesday night, triggering a political storm in the state. Bera, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the attack, sustained gunshot wounds and is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital.
Family members said they learned about the incident through television and immediately left for Kolkata.
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"We came to know from TV reports that my nephew had been shot. We still do not know who carried out the attack or why it happened," Buddhabeb's uncle Biswajit Bera said.
"Our only wish now is that he recovers and returns home safely," he added.
Buddhabeb, 25, hails from Majnaberia village in the Chandipur police station area in Purba Medinipur district.
According to family members, he mostly stays in Kolkata for work and visits home occasionally during weekends.
Besides his parents, his younger brother, sister-in-law and several relatives have also travelled to Kolkata following the incident.
Demanding strict action against the perpetrators, the uncle said, "We want the government to conduct a proper investigation and identify those directly involved in the crime. They should be given exemplary punishment so that such incidents do not happen again in West Bengal and no other family has to go through this grief."
A neighbour, Ranjana Ghorai, also sought stringent punishment for those behind the attack.
"In our neighbourhood, we call him Sona. We want exemplary punishment for the people responsible for this incident," she said.
Rath's family members have demanded life imprisonment for the accused, while Adhikari has called for capital punishment for those involved in the killing.
