A video showing a man in uniform asking an elderly Kashmiri to chant “Jai Shri Ram” has kicked up a row in Kashmir.

The video’s authenticity could not be independently confirmed by The Telegraph.

“Shocking! Man in uniform holds the arm of an Elderly Kashmiri Muslim man firmly, asks him to utter Religious (Hindu) slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Wow! This is NAYA KASHMIR. Hoshiyaar, Khabardaar, be alert, smart...,” National Conference spokesperson Sarah Hayat Khan posted on X after uploading the video.

The 10-second clip shows a masked security force official wearing a bulletproof vest and with a security vehicle in the backdrop asking an elderly Kashmiri to chant the Hindu religious slogan.

“Now say loudly Jai Shri Ram,” the man in uniform tells the elderly man, raising his fist in the air. The elderly man repeats the slogan. The old man offered no resistance, although he appeared confused. There is a kangri (fire pot) lying on the ladder of the security vehicle, apparently belonging to the old man.

It appears the act of filming was deliberate, as the old man repeatedly looked into the camera. It is not clear who shot the video.

Several social media users tagged the post to Jammu and Kashmir police for answers, but they did not respond. It is not clear whether the man in uniform is from the army, paramilitary or police force.

Last year, soldiers of 50 Rashtriya Rifles, led by an army major, allegedly stormed two mosques in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district and forced worshippers to chant “Jai Shri Ram” — which triggered a political storm in the Valley.

The army reportedly took action against the erring officer, although it did not publicly speak about the incident.

Internet suspended

Internet services were suspended in Jammu’s Poonch and Rajouri districts on Wednesday and some people were detained in Jammu and Kashmir following tension over a bill passed by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday evening that included the affluent Pahari castes in the Scheduled Tribe category.

The Opposition National Conference said former chief minister Omar Abdullah’s planned visit to Rajouri’s Sunderbani for a party programme was also “thwarted on the ruse of the ST Pahadi reservation bill”.