Pramod Soni was arrested in Ranchi, Jharkhand, for allegedly disguising himself in a burqa to impersonate a Muslim woman at a Janmashtami event near Albert Ekka Chowk.
The event, which featured a lively Dahi Handi competition and cultural performances, was attended by Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, senior local officials, and thousands of spectators, according to The Indian Express.
A woman named Nusrat Parveen became suspicious when she noticed his gait and feet while he stepped out to buy medicines. She alerted nearby police officers. Soni was apprehended near Zila School after attempting to leave in an e-rickshaw. Once the burqa was removed, it was revealed that the individual was a man wearing jeans from Palkot in Gumla district.
Authorities registered an FIR, alleging that he had intended to disrupt communal harmony. With his confession suggesting an intent to create social tension, the case has raised serious concerns and is now under further investigation.
The strong reaction to this incident is not surprising. Psychological theories, such as the Integrated Threat Theory, explain how perceived threats to identity or security can heighten group defensiveness and tension—especially in culturally sensitive or communal contexts.
