Bengal man who sold jhalmuri to PM gets bomb, death threats from Pak, Bangladesh

The jhalmuri seller from Bengal who turned into an overnight sensation after Prime Minister Narendra Modi bought snacks from his stall during an election rally is now allegedly receiving bomb and death threats from Pakistani and Bangladeshi numbers.

Shop owner Bikram Sau became a household name, and the jhalmuri from his stall emerged as a new political flashpoint in the run-up to the Bengal Assembly polls last month.

However, his sudden shot to fame has turned into a nightmare for Bikram and his family. According to Bikram, he has been receiving continuous phone and video calls from Pakistan and Bangladesh over the past few days. Bikram claimed that he also received death threats through these calls.

The incident left Bikram Sau and his family deeply worried and frightened. The matter has already been reported to the police, who have started an investigation after receiving the complaint. The alleged threatening calls from international numbers have also sparked concern and tension in the area.

Sau’s viral moment occurred on April 19 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped at a roadside jhalmuri stall while returning from a public meeting and ate one of Bengal’s most popular snacks.

The moment, captured on camera, quickly circulated online, reinforcing a familiar image -- a leader who frequently folds local flavours into his campaign narrative.

Sharing a glimpse on X, PM Modi had written, "In between four rallies across West Bengal on a packed Sunday, had some delicious jhalmuri in Jhargram," accompanying it with photographs of himself sampling the quintessential Bengali snack."

The frenzy around the humble street snack jhalmuri did not end with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stop at the stall. It also sparked a heated political debate between the BJP and the TMC, with then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee calling it a “pre-planned drama.”

It did not stop there. At another rally in the run-up to the Bengal polls, Modi took a swipe at Banerjee, saying he had eaten spicy puffed rice, but it was the TMC that was feeling the heat.

Even after the Bengal elections were over, the snack’s popularity appeared to travel with PM Modi during his recently concluded five-nation tour, where he once again brought up jhalmuri while addressing a gathering in the Netherlands.

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