“This is not Jama Masjid, Hindus live in this area. How can a Muslim open his shop (on Diwali)?” the accused can be heard saying in the video
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A video going viral on social media shows a Bajran Dal activist using abusive language while threatening to a Muslim Biryani shop owner in Sant Nagar in National Capital on the eve of Diwali.
The accused proudly introduces himself as Naresh Kumar Suryavanshi, a member of right-wing group Bajrang Dal in the video and said that Sant Nagar is a Hindu area and, showering abuses on the Biryani shop owner, said how he dared to open the shop in this ‘Hindu area’ on the occasion of Diwali.
[English Captions]
This video is from New Delhi, India’s capital city
A Hindu extremist from Bajrang Dal abusing and forcing a Muslim restaurant owner to close his shop on the eve of Diwali. pic.twitter.com/tsXGkmK94V
— HindutvaWatch (@HindutvaWatchIn) November 5, 2021
The Bajrang Dal man also threatened the workers of the shop against opening the shop on any Hindu festival, according to video.
The accused can be heard in the video abusing the shopkeeper and he said, “This is not Jama Masjid, Hindus live in this area. How can a Muslim open his shop?” on the day of Diwali.
The shop owner and his workers closed the shop soon after. The video was recorded around 9 pm on Thursday and later circulated on social media, shop owner and his workers said.
The Delhi police, however, took suo motu cognisance of the video and filed an FIR against the accused, reports PTI.
After taking cognisance of the video and verifying the facts, a case was registered under Section 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code at Burari police station, a senior police officer said.
An investigation is underway to ascertain the identity of the accused and nab him, the officer said.