A group of Bajrang Dal workers pressured a Muslim shopkeeper in Kotdwar town of Uttarakhand to change the name of his shop, objecting to the use of the name “Baba Shop,” according to a video of the incident that has since circulated widely on social media.
The video, widely shared on Facebook and other platforms, shows members of the Hindu right-wing group confronting a Muslim shopkeeper and objecting to the name of his shop, “Baba Shop,” alleging that the name was misleading and should be changed. However, the shop’s board clearly mentions his name.
The incident occurred in the Patel Marg area of Kotdwar, behind the Jama Masjid, which has shops belonging to both Hindus and Muslims.
During the confrontation, a local Hindu man, identified as Deepak Kumar, intervened and firmly challenged the Bajrang Dal workers. In the video, he is seen questioning their authority to dictate a shopkeeper’s business name and asking them to leave the premises.
When the group demanded to know his identity, he responded, “Mohammad Deepak,” a remark that appeared to unsettle the group. The Bajrang Dal workers subsequently left the area.
Speaking to Maktoob, the shop owner, Wakeel Ahmed, said the incident has left him shaken and fearful. “They came and started pressuring me to remove the shop’s name. They said it was not acceptable. As it was our 30-year-old brand name, I tried to explain, but they kept harassing me,” Salmani said.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.