A Muslim singer from Assam has been arrested by police in the state for allegedly changing the lyrics to a song that became popular during Bangladesh’s recent quota reform movement, ‘Deshta Tomar Baper Naaki’.
The Assamese song incorporates the original melody of ‘Deshta Tomar Baper Naaki’ with the Assamese Bihu melody and rhythm.
The Assam police said that the YouTuber and singer Altaf Hussain had tried to ‘enmity between the Hindu and Miao communities’ through his song. The section under which the case has been filed in the newly introduced Indian Penal Code is the section related to hurting religious sentiments.
State Chief Minister Himanta Vishwasharma while commenting on the arrest said that the people of Assam will not accept it if they want to turn Assam’s traditional ‘Bihu’ into ‘Miya Bihu’.
Altaf Hossain was arrested from Assam’s Dhubri district last Saturday. After three days in police remand, he was produced again in the court on Tuesday.