His daughter is too scared to attend school; his gym remained closed from January 26 until he mustered the courage to reopen it on Tuesday
KOTDWAR – The young man in Uttarakhand’s Kotdwar who stood against the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper here recently is now facing sustained pressure and threats, leaving his family in a state of fear and anxiety.
The incident dates back to January 26, when Bajrang Dal men reportedly tried to force 70-year-old shopkeeper Wakeel Ahmed to remove the word “Baba” from his shop’s sign, claiming the term was exclusive to Hindus. Deepak Kumar, who later identified himself as Mohammad Deepak, intervened, confronting the group and shielding the shopkeeper. The assailants fled the scene.
However, the situation escalated on January 31, when members of Bajrang Dal and affiliated organisations staged a protest against Deepak. Three First Information Reports (FIRs) have since been registered: one by shopkeeper Wakeel Ahmed, another against unidentified Bajrang Dal members, and a third against Deepak and his friend Vijay Rawat.
Speaking to reporters, Deepak described the toll on his daily life. “My family is under severe mental pressure,” he said. “My young daughter has stopped going to school out of fear. We are living in constant anxiety about something bad happening.”
Deepak, who has lived in Kotdwar for years and is known for social activism, emphasised that his actions were not politically or religiously motivated. “I tried to save an elderly person simply as a citizen and a human being. But now that same act has become a source of terror for my family,” he said.
His gym, which is his source of livelihood, remained closed from January 26 until he mustered the courage to reopen it on Tuesday (February 3). Deepak questioned the sudden objection to a shop name that had stood for 35 years. “If nobody had a problem with it for decades, why is it an issue now?” he asked.
He accused outside elements of disrupting the town’s peaceful environment and called on the administration to ensure the safety of ordinary citizens. “I will not step back from the path of humanity and truth,” Deepak stated. “No one should be forced to live in fear.”
Local authorities have acknowledged the tensions. A police official stated, “We are investigating all angles based on the registered complaints. The safety of all citizens is our priority.”
The case highlights the challenges faced by individuals who intervene in communally charged situations, often becoming targets themselves. As Kotdwar grapples with this incident, the focus remains on whether the administration can ensure both justice and lasting peace for all residents.
