Two youths have been arrested in separate incidents across West Bengal for allegedly posting content on social media in support of Pakistan and making anti-India remarks.

In Bankura district, the police arrested a youth identified as Imran Sheikh alias Samrat from the Barajora Bazar area for allegedly posting anti-India and pro-Pakistan pictures and captions on social media. According to sources, Imran and another youth had recently come to the area from Murshidabad to work as hawkers.

Local sources claimed that Imran had posted pictures and writings on his social media profile supporting Pakistan during the ongoing Indo-Pak conflict. He also reportedly used disrespectful language against India. After the posts came to light, local BJP workers caught Imran and his companion on Sunday evening. They allegedly made the two stand on a Pakistani flag and hold their ears as a punishment. The duo was also forced to chant “Hindustan Zindabad” and “Pakistan Murdabad” before being handed over to the Barajora police.

The police arrested Imran Sheikh that night and released the other youth for lack of concrete evidence. Authorities brought Imran before the Bankura District Court on Monday. A case has been registered against him under sections 196, 197(1)(c), 152, 352, and 353(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

In a separate incident in Purba Burdwan district, another youth named Milan Sheikh was arrested for allegedly posting a misleading picture on social media. The image falsely depicted the devastation in India caused by a Pakistani attack. The post also carried the statement, “India has admitted defeat to Pakistan.”

Sources said strong legal proceedings have been initiated against Milan Sheikh for making provocative remarks against the country, destroying national sovereignty, and demoralising the Indian Army. He was presented in court on Monday, and the court has sent him to seven days of police custody. During the hearing, Milan claimed that he posted the content “by mistake without realising it.”