A disturbing video from Cuttack shows the hawker from West Bengal being humiliated and repeatedly abused
NEW DELHI/CUTTACK — In a deeply troubling incident that has stirred widespread outrage, a Muslim hawker from West Bengal is reported to have been publicly humiliated and harassed by a man named Chandan Das in Jhinkiriya in Odisha’s Cuttack district. The victim was asked his name and religion, labelled a “Bangladeshi” and “Rohingya,” and threatened with violence — all the while he pleaded with folded hands for mercy.
A video of the incident, which has gone viral on social media, shows Chandan Das aggressively confronting the hawker, demanding to know his religious identity and forcing him to show his Aadhaar card. When the hawker said he did not have the police number, Das pressured him to call the police anyway and warned him not to return to the area.
The Muslim hawker, who earns his livelihood selling goods from door to door, is seen trembling in fear. He repeatedly tells Das, “Please let me go. I will return to Medinipur immediately.” Yet Das continues to hurl abuse and threats at him.
Das is heard saying, “Wherever you see Muslims, protest against them. Tell the police that Chandan Das caught me and made me run away.” He then issues a clear threat: “If I see you here again, I will beat you badly.”
This is not an isolated case. Across India, Muslims are increasingly being targeted based on their faith. From Uttar Pradesh to Haryana, from Rajasthan to Delhi, there have been numerous reports of Muslims being attacked, looted, and insulted. In many such cases, the attackers start by asking for names, and once it is revealed that the person is Muslim, abuse and violence follow.
In the past few months, so-called cow vigilantes have attacked Muslim men in several states. Shopkeepers have been beaten after being asked their names. Hawkers and daily wage workers have been publicly humiliated. The pattern is clear and dangerous.
Speaking on this, Imran Siddiqui, a human rights activist based in Bhubaneswar, said, “We are seeing a very disturbing trend where Muslims are being insulted. Asking someone’s name and religion and then using that as an excuse to humiliate them is inhumane. It is against the idea of India.”
He added, “The way this man was treated — with folded hands he kept begging, but the attacker showed no shame or humanity — is heartbreaking.”
The victim, who has not been named for his safety, is originally from Medinipur, West Bengal. He had been selling basic household goods in the locality when he was stopped by Chandan Das.
According to residents, the hawker had been coming to the area regularly and had never caused any trouble. “He used to come quietly, sell his goods and leave. No one ever had a problem with him,” said Sukhdev Nayak, a resident of Jhinkiriya village.
“But that day, Chandan stopped him and kept shouting. We could see the hawker was scared. He kept folding his hands and saying ‘Bhai, chhod do’ (Brother, please let me go), but Chandan would not listen,” he added.
The video, which has been widely shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, has triggered a wave of anger among citizens.
People from different parts of the country have condemned the harassment and demanded strict action against Chandan Das. Several users pointed out that this kind of treatment of Muslims is becoming too common and must be stopped before it leads to even more hatred.
“This is not about religion anymore. This is about basic human rights. No one deserves to be treated this way,” posted one user.
“Chandan Das must be arrested. If the law cannot protect an innocent hawker from such treatment, then what is the law even for?” asked another.
Despite the video going viral and public anger rising, there has been no official statement from the local police or administration as of now. Calls for justice have gone unanswered, and no FIR has been registered against the accused at the time of writing.
This silence from the authorities is being seen by many as part of a larger pattern where crimes against Muslims are not treated with seriousness.
“The police must act. If they keep quiet, it will send a message that such hate crimes are acceptable. This is not acceptable in any civilised society,” said Dr. Asif Raza, a professor of political science in Cuttack.
Over the past year, there has been a steady rise in anti-Muslim incidents. In Delhi, a Muslim meat seller was assaulted by a group who asked for his name. In Uttarakhand, a young Muslim boy was beaten for trying to sell clothes. In Haryana and Rajasthan, lynchings have taken place under the guise of cow protection.
“All this is part of the same sickness — hate against Muslims. People have started thinking they can do anything to us and walk away free,” said Fazlur Rahman, a trader from Cuttack. “We are Indian citizens. We live here. We vote. We pay taxes. But still we are treated as outsiders.”
Many civil society groups have now begun calling for justice and protection for vulnerable communities. A joint statement from Odisha Minority Rights Forum and Citizens for Peace condemned the incident and demanded that the Odisha government take swift action.
“We ask the chief minister to intervene and ensure safety to every person, regardless of their religion. What happened in Cuttack is shameful. It should never happen again,” the statement read.
Muslim leaders in the region have also urged the community to remain calm and not respond with hate. Instead, they are calling for legal action and peaceful protest.
This incident in Cuttack is not just about one hawker and one attacker. It is about the rising tide of hate that is poisoning society. When people can be abused and threatened in broad daylight just for being Muslim, it raises serious questions about where the country is headed.
The silence of the authorities adds to the fear. But the voices of ordinary people, rising in protest on social media, offer hope.
As Junaid Khan, a law student, put it, “We may be poor, but we have dignity. We may be minorities, but we are citizens. We won’t stop raising our voice until every person in this country can live without fear.”
