A Jhalmuri vendor from Jhargram, West Bengal, who became a national figure after serving Prime Minister Narendra Modi the popular Bengali street snack during a campaign stop, is now reportedly receiving daily death threats from international numbers traced to Pakistan and Bangladesh. The vendor, Vikram Sao, says the threatening calls began shortly after his brief but widely publicised exchange with the Prime Minister and have continued for several days.

How Vikram Sao Came Into the Spotlight

During the West Bengal Assembly election campaign, PM Modi made an unscheduled stop at Vikram Sao's roadside stall in Jhargram to sample Jhalmuri — a spiced puffed-rice snack popular across Bengal. The moment was captured on camera and quickly went viral, turning the humble street vendor into what commentators called a 'star Jhalmuri vendor' overnight. The lighthearted interaction dominated national headlines for days.

Nature of the Threats

According to Vikram Sao, he has been receiving repeated video and voice calls from numbers linked to Pakistan, with callers allegedly threatening to 'blow him up with bombs.' He said callers made frightening gestures, brandished weapons on video, and warned him of 'dire consequences.' Separately, callers reportedly from Bangladesh have been asking him, 'Are you alive or dead?' and sending WhatsApp messages warning of a bomb attack.

Sao noted that the callers first offered a religious greeting before issuing the threats, and that none of them explicitly mentioned his interaction with the Prime Minister — though the timing of the calls, which began only after the Modi visit became public, has alarmed him and his family.

Police Response and Security Cover

After Vikram Sao escalated the matter to local authorities, police launched a probe into the threatening calls. He has since been provided with a security cover, with police personnel posted to guard him. The investigation is ongoing, and the origin and identity of the callers have not yet been officially confirmed.

Sao's Appeal to the Government

Speaking to reporters, a visibly shaken Vikram Sao said he is worried not just for himself but for his family's safety. When asked if he had any specific appeal to make to PM Modi, he said the government should ensure he receives adequate and sustained security cover. He added that he did not pick up many of the calls, but the phone 'didn't stop ringing,' with callers also hurling abuses and expletives.

As the probe continues, the case has drawn attention to the vulnerability of ordinary citizens who are thrust into the national spotlight — and the cross-border dimensions that such visibility can, in rare cases, attract.