Pauri Garhwal: Police in Uttarakhand have registered a First Information Report against two Hindu men after they opposed harassment faced by an elderly Muslim shopkeeper in Pauri Garhwal district. The incident occurred on January 26 at shop of Vakeel Ahmed. A group accused of links with Bajrang Dal reached the shop and objected to the use of the word Baba in its name.
The shop has operated for over three decades. Deepak Kumar, a local gym owner, and Vijay Rawat questioned the group and opposed the targeting of Ahmed. Members of the group warned them against intervening. Police later filed an FIR against Kumar and Rawat based on a complaint by Gaurav Kashyap and Kamal Pal. Kashyap reportedly has links with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Pal reportedly has links with the Bajrang Dal. The complaint accused the two men of theft and caste based abuse.
After the FIR, a crowd of around forty people gathered near Kumar’s gym and blocked a national highway. Police registered a separate case against unidentified persons over the protest. Another FIR was filed on Ahmed’s complaint. This case includes charges related to trespass, intimidation, insult intended to provoke breach of peace, and causing hurt.
A video of the incident circulated. In the video, Kumar questioned objections toward Ahmed’s shop and referred to its presence in the area. When asked his name, Kumar replied Mohammad Deepak. He later said the response reflected equality before the law.
