The jhalmuri seller who shot to fame after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stopped at his stall during the Bengal election campaign has now allegedly received death threats through WhatsApp calls and messages.

Vikram Sau, a jhalmuri vendor from Jhargram in West Bengal, has filed a police complaint alleging that unknown callers threatened to “blow him up with bombs” after the viral incident involving Modi earlier this year.

According to police, the threats were sent from unidentified numbers through WhatsApp text messages, voice calls, and video calls. 

Confirming the complaint, Jhargram Superintendent of Police Manav Singla said an investigation is currently underway.

Speaking about the incident, Vikram claimed some of the calls appeared to originate from Bangladesh and Pakistan.

“They first greeted me politely. When I did not respond, they threatened to blow me up with bombs,” he alleged. He further claimed that one WhatsApp message read: “You are on our target list. You will be blown up with bombs.”

Originally from Gaya in Bihar, Vikram has been living with his family in Jhargram’s Station Para area for several years.

His family, including his elderly parents, wife, and young son, is reportedly terrified following the threats. Police officials have assured the family of support and are probing the source of the calls and messages.

Vikram had become an overnight sensation on April 19 after Modi, while returning from a public rally in Jhargram, stopped at his roadside stall to eat jhalmuri.

Videos and photographs of the Prime Minister enjoying the popular Bengali snack quickly went viral on social media and sparked widespread political and public attention.

Following the viral moment, crowds reportedly thronged Vikram’s stall for weeks, with many visiting just to meet the vendor who served the Prime Minister.

Though life had slowly started returning to normal after the Assembly election results, the latest threat allegations have once again brought Vikram into the spotlight.