NEW DELHI — For several weeks, a police verification campaign in Uttarakhand has raised serious concerns among Muslim communities and civil rights activists, as authorities appear to target Muslim residents and migrants with excessive checks and suspicion. What should be a routine verification of outsiders has turned into a systematic scrutiny that many feel singles out Muslims as strangers in their own country.
The police administration in Uttarakhand cities, including Haldwani and Nainital, has intensified checks on people coming from other states, treating them as potential threats rather than fellow citizens. The focus is particularly harsh on Muslim neighbourhoods, where police are seen entering homes and interrogating residents, sparking fear and unrest.
Local shopkeepers, labourers, and workers from across India, especially Muslims, are reportedly being stopped on the streets and asked for ID documents such as Aadhar cards, ration cards, and health scheme documents. Videos circulating on social media show police surrounding workers at intersections and conducting ID verification in ways that suggest profiling and discrimination.
“This is not just a verification drive. It feels like a witch hunt targeting Muslims. People from Muslim areas are being treated differently and questioned as if they do not belong here,” said Abdul Rehman, a resident of Haldwani. “We are Indians, but these actions make us feel like outsiders in our own country.”
The Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Nainital, PN Meena, acknowledged the ongoing verification and said around 20,000 to 25,000 outsiders had been checked in the past month. According to him, some individuals were found with fake documents and FIRs have been filed against them. However, the scale and manner of the operation have caused thousands to leave the city out of fear, many without informing anyone, further deepening the sense of insecurity among Muslim communities.
“We are questioning landlords and others who have allowed these outsiders to stay. We are investigating any suspicious connections,” said Meena. “People’s motives are being checked carefully.”
In Haldwani, police officer CO Nitin Lohani confirmed large-scale checks are being conducted in Muslim-majority areas such as Vanbhulpura and Rajpur. “We are verifying all documents, including those under government schemes,” he said.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.