Bareilly: A Muslim restaurant owner in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, has been detained after right-wing groups accused him of hiding his religious identity. The incident occurred when Bajrang Dal leaders visited the dhaba on the Nainital Highway for breakfast. Allegedly, they became upset after discovering his religious identity while paying the bill, leading to a commotion and police involvement.
The police detained the owner and seized the dhaba’s signboard. The local Muslim community expressed outrage, calling the action unfair. The owner said he was only trying to earn a livelihood and maintain dignity, adding that running a shop is not a crime. Locals and activists dismissed the claims made by the right-wing groups as false, noting that accusations about images of idols on the signboard during the Kanwar Yatra were fabricated.
The dhaba remains closed, and the owner is in custody. Police have not issued an official statement regarding the case. Community members fear a growing pattern of targeting Muslim business owners during Hindu festivals, citing previous incidents where extremist groups demanded boycotts of Muslim-run shops.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Uttar Pradesh, where religious identity has increasingly become a source of scrutiny for small business owners. Observers say such actions risk escalating communal friction in localities and create an atmosphere of fear among minority communities.
