Mirzapur police have arrested Birha singer Saroj Sargam and her husband Rammilan Bind on charges of hurting Hindu sentiments and encroaching on forest land. In this operation, four other members associated with Saroj’s troupe were also taken into custody. Along with the arrests, their YouTube channel was shut down, and several digital devices, including mobile phones, were seized as evidence.
Controversy Over Offensive Songs
Police investigations revealed that Saroj Sargam used highly offensive and inappropriate language against Hindu deities, particularly Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva, in several of her videos. In one song, she made derogatory comments about Goddess Durga while referring to Mahishasur. Even the thumbnails of some videos displayed abusive words targeting deities. This content caused widespread outrage among the Hindu community.
The songs went viral on social media, with users demanding immediate police action. Several Hindu organisations stated that Saroj not only insulted religious faith but also attempted to create an antisocial atmosphere, which was unacceptable.
Controversial Songs Made for Money
During police questioning, it was revealed that Saroj Sargam and her husband had been producing songs for special groups in exchange for money over the past three years. They admitted that the controversial song was made at the request of Rajveer Singh Yadav from Prayagraj. The song was recorded and uploaded on her YouTube channel from Prayagraj. Saroj also admitted that although an old video was removed on 21 September, she later created another objectionable video and uploaded it on social media, escalating the controversy.
Conversion to Christianity
SP Somen Verma informed that about ten months ago, Saroj Sargam and her husband converted to Christianity. Even after conversion, they remained active in society through Birha singing. However, due to songs that hurt religious sentiments, they became embroiled in controversy, ultimately leading to their arrest.
Encroachment on 15 Bigha Forest Land
Village-level investigations revealed another shocking fact: Saroj Sargam and her husband had encroached on about 15 bigha of forest land in Gadhwa village, Mirzapur, which they were using for cultivation. Considering the seriousness of the matter, a joint team from the district administration and forest department measured the land on 23 September and removed the illegal encroachment. The administration termed this a serious offence and said separate action would be taken by the revenue and forest departments.
Police Action and Arrests
Given the gravity of the case, a complaint was filed on 19 September by Daroga Santosh Kumar Rai. Following this, the cyber cell and surveillance team were tasked with investigation. After recovering digital evidence and video clips, police launched a raid on Wednesday and arrested Saroj Sargam, Rammilan Bind, and four other troupe members: Sitaram Kol, Suresh Kol, Prem Saroj alias Prachand, and Rakesh Kumar Yadav.
During the arrests, multiple mobile phones, digital devices, and objectionable material were seized. Police stated that all these items would play a key role in further investigation.
Threat to Hindu Faith
The administration clarified that Saroj Sargam’s controversial songs and videos not only hurt Hindu sentiments but also had the potential to damage communal harmony. Authorities emphasised that if timely action had not been taken, it could have disrupted peace in the region. Hence, police acted promptly with strict measures.
This entire incident underscores that attempting to gain popularity by posting objectionable content on social media cannot evade legal scrutiny. Any activity against religion, faith, or social harmony will be met with strict action. Saroj Sargam and her family are currently in police custody, while the encroached land has been cleared and handed over to the forest department.
Who is Saroj Sargam
Saroj Sargam, originally from Uparadaha village in Handia police station area of Prayagraj, is known in Mirzapur’s Madian area as a Birha singer. In recent years, she began sharing her songs on YouTube. Her channel, named “Saroj Sargam Mirzapur”, had around 63,000 subscribers and nearly 40 videos uploaded so far. Some of these videos sparked major controversy.
