A video from Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh has gone viral after members of the Arunachal Pradesh Indigenous Youth Organization (APIYO) entered a local mosque and demanded to see its registration documents, as seen in the video recorded on 28 November 2025.
Led by the organisation’s president, Taro Sonam Liyak, the group claimed they were verifying whether the mosque was operating legally.
What’s in the Video
In the widely circulated footage, the team is seen questioning those present about the mosque’s ownership, permissions, activities, and sources of funding. At one point, the group also asked the mosque’s imam to chant “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
At one point, the man leading the group says, “If it is not registered, then it has to be dismantled… otherwise the state will face problems.” He also questions why the mosque is required, asking whether its purpose is business, labour work, or something else.
The videos, widely circulated, have received thousands of views and sparked intense conversations online about legality, civic rights, and religious freedoms. The video does not show the presence of any police or government officials.
Chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’
Toward the end of the video, the man leading the group asks an individual inside the mosque to chant “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” He says: “Say ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’… say it loudly.” The Muslim man eventually agrees and says,“Bharat Mata ki Jai… We live here, so why can’t we say it? Whether you say Hindustan, Bharat or India, it all means the same.”
The APIYO President Taro Sonam Liyak, in his videos on his social media profile, says that the crime rate in the state has increased due to the illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. He claims that all the legal mosques, churches and other religious places are fine to operate but need to “dismantle” the illegal ones.
Group Claims Action Is Against ‘Illegal Migration’
APIYO President Taro Sonam Liyak has claimed in his Facebook videos that its actions are part of its campaign against what it describes as the influx of “Bangladeshi illegal migrants” into the state.
The president frequently states in his videos that the organisation “respects all religions” but is “against Bangladeshi ghuspaithiya and miyas,” arguing that undocumented migration poses a threat to indigenous communities.
However, these claims have not been verified by the administration, and officials have not issued any confirmation linking the mosque in question to illegal migrants.
Administration Yet to Issue Clarification
As of now, there has been no formal statement from the Itanagar district administration or local police regarding the legality of the mosque, the status of any inquiry, or whether the group’s actions fall under permissible civic activism.
