Based on a First Information Report (FIR) against the Jamia shooter Ram Bhakt Gopal for his hate speech and genocidal slogans against the Muslim community during a mahapanchayat in Pataudi on July 4, Gurgaon Police arrested him on Monday evening.
According to Varun Singla, DCP (Manesar), ‘an FIR has been registered under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 295A (outraging religious feelings). The accused has been mentioned by name in the complaint we have received and was arrested this evening. By his own admission, he is 19 years old,’ The Indian Express reported.
Gopal, as 17 years old last year in January 2020 had opened fire at a group of anti-CAA protesters near Jamia Millia Islamia injuring a student but later stopped by the Delhi police. Following the incident, an FIR was registered against him under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder). Later on, he was later sent to a correctional home as he was still a minor and was released after a few months.
The July 2021 mahapanchayat saw a large-scale gathering of people from the Hindu community where the issue of religious conversions or ‘love jihad and population control was discussed, addressing which Gopal made several venomous and Islamophobic comments.
Rambhakt Gopal, the man who opened firing at Jamia Milia Islamia & shot a student with a bullet is now openly giving death threats to Muslims in the name of religion as thousands support him. This is the ground reality of our country#ArrestRambhaktGopalpic.twitter.com/AlA6w3IhW0
— Sankul Sonawane (@Sankul333) July 8, 2021
In a purported video of his speech, amidst thunderous applause by the audience, he can be heard calling Muslims names such as ‘jihadi’, ‘aatankwadi mansikta ke log (people with a terrorist mindset)’ and threatening them that if he can travel 100 km to Jamia referring to attack on anti-CAA protestors, then Pataudi is not very far for him to travel.
After a public outrage against his violence provoking hate speech and demands for his arrest, Gopal in a live video said that he stands by whatever he said during the mahapanchayat and is ready to even go to jail for it. In the same video, he repeated his slogan that Muslims will shout ‘Ram Nam’ when they would be attacked.
AFTER the hate speech for mass murder of Muslims, Rambhakt Gopal made a video.
He says that he stands firm on his hate speech, and reassures that, "Jab mulle kaate jaayenge, Ram Ram chillayenge."
Is this the new norm of Audacity?#ArrestRambhaktGopalpic.twitter.com/Pivszg5djU
— Hussain Haidry (@hussainhaidry) July 8, 2021
Gopal has regularly engaged with people online through live videos provoking them to perpetrate violence upon the Muslim community and has on many occasions called for the abduction of Muslim women.
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