Police in Uttarakhand have filed a first information report (FIR) against two men who intervened when members of right-wing groups allegedly harassed a Muslim shopkeeper in the town of Kotdwar last month, police said.
The FIR was registered against Deepak Kumar and Vijay Rawat, who opposed a group of men demanding that an elderly shopkeeper, Ahmed Wakil, change the name of his shop, “Baba School Dress,” during an incident on Jan. 26, police and local media reported.
Police have also filed a separate FIR against two named and several unnamed men based on a complaint by Wakil, alleging trespassing, criminal intimidation, intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace and causing hurt, police said.
A third FIR was registered against unnamed members of right-wing groups for blocking a national highway on Jan. 31 while protesting against Kumar and Rawat, police said. All three FIRs were lodged on Saturday evening.
Sarvesh Panwar, superintendent of police of Pauri Garhwal district, told The Hindu that the case against Kumar and Rawat was filed following a complaint by Gaurav Kashyap and Kamal Pal, who identified themselves as members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, respectively.
“The complainants alleged that Kumar and Rawat attacked them with the intention to harm them, snatched their money, watches and phones, and hurled caste-based slurs to intimidate them,” Panwar said, adding that the complainants claimed they were at the location as part of a door-to-door outreach programme.
According to police, members of the VHP and the Bajrang Dal had confronted Wakil over the name of his shop on Jan. 26. Kumar and Rawat, who run a gym nearby, intervened in support of the shopkeeper.
A video of the incident, later circulated on social media, shows Kumar responding “I am Mohammed Deepak” when asked his name by the group.
Police said members of right-wing groups later raised slogans, organised marches in Kotdwar and blocked a national highway, disrupting traffic and prompting the registration of an FIR to prevent a breach of peace.
Kumar said his life was under threat and questioned the police action against him. “Those who abused the Muslim shopkeeper are roaming free,” he was quoted as saying by local media.
A senior police officer said all cases were being investigated and that action would be taken based on evidence. “We are examining video footage and recording statements. No one found guilty will be spared,” the officer said.
The incident has drawn criticism from civil rights activists and sections of the public, who questioned the decision to book Kumar and Rawat. Police said security had been increased in sensitive areas of Kotdwar to prevent further unrest and urged the public not to spread unverified information on social media.
Opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi praised Kumar in a post on social media, saying he was standing up for constitutional values and humanity. Gandhi accused the Hindu nationalist Sangh Parivar and the BJP-led Uttarakhand government of supporting groups that intimidate ordinary citizens.