NEW DELHI/DEHRADUN — A video circulating widely on social media has placed Uttarakhand under sharp public focus after a Hindutva leader was heard urging people to call the police on any Muslim seen wearing a beard and skullcap, branding them a terrorist.
The remarks, linked to Bhupesh Joshi, a functionary of a Hindu organisation, have led to alarm among Muslims and drawn criticism from civil rights voices, who say such speech puts lives at risk.
The video, recorded in Dehradun, the state capital, shows Joshi speaking to media persons while referring to a recent police action against a Muslim man. In the clip, Joshi is heard saying, “Wherever you see a man with a beard and skullcap, call the police and say that a terrorist is standing there.”
The statement spread rapidly across platforms, prompting anger and fear, while questions grew over the role of authorities and the safety of minorities.
Uttarakhand has seen rising tension around religious identity in recent years. Muslim residents say daily life has grown hard, with checks, complaints, and public suspicion linked to appearance. Activists say the video reflects a wider pattern where Muslims face action on claims tied to alleged ‘love jihad’ cases or claims of illegal occupation, while those making threats face little scrutiny.
According to media reports, the incident that triggered the video involved a Muslim man seen in a Dehradun neighbourhood. Residents called the police after spotting him with a beard and skullcap. They told officers that a terrorist was present in the area. Police arrived and took the man away for questioning.
A video from the scene shows the man crying and pleading with officers. He says he is innocent and has no link to terror. His distress has moved many viewers. One local resident who witnessed the police action said, “He was shaking and crying. He kept saying he had done nothing wrong. People were pointing at him only because of his clothes.”
The police have not issued a clear public statement on why the man was detained, how long he was held, or what checks were carried out. The lack of clarity has deepened concern among Muslims, who say they fear being stopped or reported while going about routine work.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.