Men who stood up for Muslim shopkeeper face police case in Uttarakhand

Police in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand have filed criminal charges against two men who intervened to defend a Muslim shopkeeper during a confrontation with right-wing activists, an incident that has sparked political debate and criticism from civil rights groups.

The confrontation occurred on 26 January in the town of Kotdwar, when members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal allegedly questioned and harassed an elderly Muslim shopkeeper, Ahmed Wakil, over the name of his store, "Baba school dress," according to accounts from those involved and video footage circulating online, says The Hindu.

Two local men, Deepak Kumar and Vijay Rawat, who run a nearby gym, stepped in during the exchange. In the video, Kumar is seen responding to questions from the group about his identity by saying, "I am Mohammed Deepak."

Following the incident, right-wing groups organised marches and blocked a national highway on 31 January, demanding legal action against Kumar and Rawat.

Later that evening, Uttarakhand police registered three separate First Information Reports (FIRs).

One FIR was filed against Kumar and Rawat after VHP and Bajrang Dal members alleged that the two men attacked them, stole money and personal belongings, and used casteist slurs. Police said the men were booked under charges that include criminal intimidation, rioting and breach of peace.

A second FIR was lodged based on a complaint from Wakil, in which police charged two named individuals and several unidentified others with trespassing, criminal intimidation and intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.

A third FIR was registered against unnamed right-wing protesters in connection with the highway blockade, also citing breach of peace.

The decision to book Kumar and Rawat has drawn criticism from civil rights activists, who argue that law enforcement should prioritise protecting individuals from intimidation rather than prosecuting those who intervene to help others. Kumar has said his life is under threat and questioned why action was taken against him while those who allegedly harassed the shopkeeper were not immediately detained.

The case has also taken on political significance. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi publicly praised Kumar, calling him a "lion-hearted warrior" who is fighting for the Constitution. Gandhi accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government of siding with "anti-social forces" and alleged that the Sangh Parivar was deliberately spreading hate to divide the country.

Senior police officials said they were reviewing video footage and other evidence related to the incident and stressed that action would be taken strictly on legal grounds. Authorities have also increased police deployment in sensitive areas of Kotdwar to prevent further unrest.