Video shows Hindu group accosting Shamsher Khan over tea stall name; questions raised over police conduct and growing targeting of Muslim traders in Uttar Pradesh
HATHRAS — An elderly Muslim tea seller in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras was publicly threatened and forced to remove his shop banner after members of a Hindu organisation objected to the name of his tea stall.
The incident took place near Roohery Bypass in the Hathras Gate police station area. A video of the confrontation has circulated widely on social media, showing Hindu group members arguing with the shop owner while police officers stand nearby.
The tea stall had been operating for a long time under the name “Kundan Tea Stall”. The banner also displayed the words “Baba Shamsher”. Despite this, members of a group led by Deepak Sharma, founder of an organisation called Rashtriya Swabhiman Dal, objected to the name.
Shamsher Khan, the elderly shopkeeper, appeared visibly shaken in the video.
In the footage, Deepak Sharma is heard telling the shopkeeper, “Abba named you Shamsher, and you will keep the shop’s name Kundan?”
The activists accused the elderly man of hiding his identity by using a name they claimed was linked to Hindu identity. They demanded that the banner be removed immediately.
When Shamsher Khan struggled to take down the poster, one of the men tore it down with a sharp object. Police personnel present at the scene did not stop the act. Instead, they were seen speaking to the activists while asking the person filming the video to stop recording.
A resident who witnessed the incident said, “The old man was scared. He kept saying he had done nothing wrong. The shop has been there for years.”
Legal experts say that there is no general ban on using a particular name for a shop, unless it violates trademark or specific regulatory laws.
A lawyer in Hathras said, “Running a shop under a chosen name is not illegal. There is no law that says a Muslim cannot use a name like Kundan.”
The word “Kundan” is widely used in Hindi-Urdu and Persian-influenced vocabulary. It refers to refined gold and symbolises purity. It is not exclusive to any one religion.
A local teacher explained, “Kundan is a common word in literature and daily speech. It does not belong to one community.”
Community members say the incident reflects a larger pattern in which Muslim traders face pressure in certain areas over their names, food habits or identity.
One trader in the area said, “Today it is about a name. Tomorrow it can be about something else. Small business owners are living in fear.”
Another resident added, “If there was any complaint, the proper way was to approach the authorities. Public humiliation is not justice.”
The role of the police has drawn criticism. In the video, officers are present while the banner is being torn down. They are also seen telling a person not to record the incident.
A former police official, when asked about the footage, said, “If officers were present, their duty was to prevent damage to property and maintain peace. Any allegation of bias should be examined.”
At the time of reporting, there was no official statement from Hathras police regarding the action taken against those involved.
For Shamsher Khan, the incident has left emotional scars. A neighbour said, “He is an old man trying to earn his living. After the incident, he kept saying, ‘What mistake have I made?’”
As debates grow over identity and business rights, many in the area say the real issue is whether ordinary citizens can carry on their livelihood without intimidation.
One elderly resident summed it up quietly: “A tea stall should not become a battleground. People should be allowed to work with dignity.”
