Cannon firing, slogans in viral Raisen Fort video, 4 held

BHOPAL: Police in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district have arrested four youths after a video showing cannon firing from the hilltop ASI protected Raisen Fort and alleged slogans referring to war-prone countries surfaced on social media.The action followed a complaint by Brijesh Chabria, who told police that he had seen an Instagram reel in which Raisen resident Shadab Qureshi and others were allegedly seen firing a cannon from the fort while shouting slogans linked to countries involved in ongoing international conflicts. The complainant alleged that the slogans and the act of firing the cannon could potentially disturb social harmony in the town.

Police initiated an inquiry into the viral video. The suspects were identified and detained after verification. Based on the complaint, a case was registered at Kotwali police station in Raisen, and further investigation is underway.Police have arrested four accused, including the main suspect Shadab Qureshi (30), son of Shaheer Qureshi, a resident of Kasai Mohalla in Raisen. The others were identified as Yusuf Sheikh alias Danish Khan (19), son of Mahfooz Sheikh of Chataipura, Bhopal; Wasim Mohammad (32), son of Ibrahim Khan of Aishbagh, Bhopal; and Pappu alias Salman Qureshi (30), son of Salim Qureshi of Talaiya, Bhopal.

Police said efforts are underway to identify and trace others who may have been involved in the video.Late Saturday night, City Qazi and the president of the Muslim Festival Committee visited Kotwali police station and held discussions with additional SP Kamlesh Kumar Kharpuse on maintaining peace and communal harmony in the city. The City Qazi appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours related to the incident.Police said that in view of security concerns, the section of the ASI-protected Raisen Fort where the cannon is usually fired has now been restricted and will be accessible only to authorised persons.Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo also reacted to the viral video, sharing it on social media and expressing concern over what he described as the firing of illegal country-made cannons from the side of the fort towards a residential area.

Kanoongo alleged that the slogans raised in the video referred to countries such as Iran, and said the act could create fear among local residents.He also questioned the role of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the local administration in preventing such incidents, and said strict action should be taken against those involved in manufacturing or using illegal weapons and endangering public safety. Kanoongo indicated that the NHRC may issue a notice in the matter seeking a report from the authorities.Police said the viral video and associated social media posts are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.