Silencing truth and shielding terror: Troubling response of Mumbai Police to anti-Pakistan outcry

The tragic Pahalgam massacre on April 22, 2025, in which 26 innocent Hindus lost their lives, has left the Indian subcontinent shaken and grief-stricken. This heinous act of terror – widely attributed to the Pakistani Army and its notorious spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) – sparked waves of outrage not just in India but across the region. People of conscience, regardless of their nationality or religion, stood in solidarity with the victims and strongly condemned the barbarism. Amidst this chorus of protest, however, an unexpected and deeply concerning reaction emerged – from none other than the Mumbai Police.

On April 27, 2025, at 9:08 pm Bangladesh Standard Time, I posted a short message on X (formerly Twitter), alongside a video showing a doormat bearing the Pakistani flag. The caption read: “Patriotic Indians are using this new doormat. This is where the Terr*orist Republic of Pakistan belongs. Video from Kolhapur, India”.

The post reflected a visible expression of anger among Indian citizens and their symbolic rejection of a state widely accused of harboring and supporting terrorism. Yet, to my utter disbelief, the Mumbai Police appears to have taken offense at this post – not as an expression of public sentiment, but as an act potentially in violation of Indian law.

On May 4, 2025, I received an email from X, informing me that the Mumbai Police had submitted a legal request regarding the aforementioned post. The email stated:

“In the interest of transparency, we are writing to inform you that X has received a request from Mumbai Police regarding your X account, @salah_shoaib, that claims the following content violates India’s law… We have not taken any action on the reported content at this time as a result of this request”.

Although the platform has not yet acted on this request, it made clear that I may wish to evaluate the situation, consider legal options, or voluntarily delete the content. The implication was unmistakable: the authorities in Mumbai Police may be contemplating legal action against me – merely for sharing a widely circulated video that encapsulates public frustration and pain.

This raises several alarming questions. Why would Mumbai Police – tasked with protecting Indian citizens and upholding justice – choose to target a journalist for amplifying the anguish of those very citizens? Why does a post criticizing a hostile foreign power – especially one implicated in mass murder – prompt a formal complaint?

Worse yet, there seems to be a disturbing double standard at play. Social media platforms are flooded with countless videos and posts from Islamist and jihadist accounts desecrating the national flags of India, Israel, and the United States. These include instances of flags being burned, trampled, or torn apart in full public view. Has there ever been a case where Pakistani authorities, or for that matter the police in any Muslim-majority nation, have filed complaints against such posts for offending Indian or Western sensibilities? The answer is a resounding no.

This selective outrage appears not only misguided but deeply unjust. The Pakistani flag on a doormat was not a symbol of religious hatred or xenophobia – it was a symbol of public outcry against terrorism, aimed squarely at a state apparatus widely believed to be complicit in mass violence. The Indian public’s reaction – however dramatic – was rooted in justified anger, not incitement.

Moreover, by reacting this way, the Mumbai Police risk sending a dangerous message: that voicing anger against terrorism and those who perpetuate it may be punishable, while those glorifying violence against Indians face little to no accountability. If this is the precedent being set, what hope remains for free speech, for moral clarity, or for holding perpetrators accountable?

It is important to note that platforms like X have taken a principled stance in such matters by informing users when governments or law enforcement agencies issue takedown requests. This policy of transparency is commendable. However, the fact that such requests even originate from democratic institutions against expressions of truth and solidarity reveals a troubling drift toward censorship and overreach.

As a journalist committed to exposing extremism and defending truth, I find this entire episode not only shocking but profoundly disheartening. It is a cruel irony that at a time when nations should be uniting against the evil of terrorism, some choose instead to silence those who speak out against it.

If India, a democracy with a rich history of upholding free speech, starts penalizing those who express solidarity with its own victims, it sets a precedent that can be weaponized against anyone, anywhere. Today it is me -tomorrow it could be any Indian citizen who dares to call out terror.

Ultimately, this is not about a video. It is about truth, justice, and the right to stand with victims of terror without fear of reprisal. The Mumbai Police must reflect deeply on whether it truly serves the interests of justice – or risks becoming a tool to stifle dissent and shield the guilty from criticism.

If voicing the pain of terror victims, if echoing the anger of patriotic citizens, if exposing the reality of Pakistan’s state-sponsored terror now invites police scrutiny – then we are standing at the edge of a dangerous precipice. Democracies cannot afford to blur the line between legitimate dissent and criminality. Mumbai Police must ask itself: who truly threatens India’s security – those who commit mass murder, or those who speak out against it? I will not be silenced. And if we value truth and freedom, neither should the people of India.

In this critical moment, I must ask Mumbai Police and the authorities concerned: are you going to protect those who condemn terrorism, or punish them for their courage?

Please follow Blitz on Google News Channel

An internationally acclaimed multi-award-winning anti-militancy journalist, writer, research-scholar, counterterrorism specialist and editor of Blitz. He regularly writes for local and international newspapers on diversified topics, including international relations, politics, diplomacy, security and counterterrorism. Follow him on ‘X’ @Salah_Shoaib

silencing-truth-and-shielding-terror-troubling-response-of-mumbai-police-to-anti-pakistan-outcry