The move has raised fears of discrimination and alienation in the Muslim community
NEW DELHI — For several weeks, a police verification campaign in Uttarakhand has raised serious concerns among Muslim communities and civil rights activists, as authorities appear to target Muslim residents and migrants with excessive checks and suspicion. What should be a routine verification of outsiders has turned into a systematic scrutiny that many feel singles out Muslims as strangers in their own country.
The police administration in Uttarakhand cities, including Haldwani and Nainital, has intensified checks on people coming from other states, treating them as potential threats rather than fellow citizens. The focus is particularly harsh on Muslim neighbourhoods, where police are seen entering homes and interrogating residents, sparking fear and unrest.
Local shopkeepers, labourers, and workers from across India, especially Muslims, are reportedly being stopped on the streets and asked for ID documents such as Aadhar cards, ration cards, and health scheme documents. Videos circulating on social media show police surrounding workers at intersections and conducting ID verification in ways that suggest profiling and discrimination.
“This is not just a verification drive. It feels like a witch hunt targeting Muslims. People from Muslim areas are being treated differently and questioned as if they do not belong here,” said Abdul Rehman, a resident of Haldwani. “We are Indians, but these actions make us feel like outsiders in our own country.”
The Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Nainital, PN Meena, acknowledged the ongoing verification and said around 20,000 to 25,000 outsiders had been checked in the past month. According to him, some individuals were found with fake documents and FIRs have been filed against them. However, the scale and manner of the operation have caused thousands to leave the city out of fear, many without informing anyone, further deepening the sense of insecurity among Muslim communities.
“We are questioning landlords and others who have allowed these outsiders to stay. We are investigating any suspicious connections,” said Meena. “People’s motives are being checked carefully.”
In Haldwani, police officer CO Nitin Lohani confirmed large-scale checks are being conducted in Muslim-majority areas such as Vanbhulpura and Rajpur. “We are verifying all documents, including those under government schemes,” he said.
The verification drive has disproportionately targeted Muslims who migrated from West Bengal’s Murshidabad and other regions, raising uncomfortable questions about why Muslims are under such scrutiny compared to others. This has prompted thousands to migrate away from Uttarakhand, fearing harassment and unfair treatment.
“The police are trying to link Muslim migrants with unproven allegations and funding from distant places. It is an attempt to create suspicion around an entire community,” explained Shaista Begum, a human rights activist from Nainital. “These actions only deepen communal divides and make Muslims feel unwelcome in India.”
The selective verification raises doubts about the police administration’s impartiality and respect for human rights. Muslim citizens, many of whom come to Uttarakhand seeking employment and a peaceful life, feel they are being unfairly labelled and treated as second-class citizens.
“This kind of targeting violates the basic rights of the Muslims,” said advocate Imran Khan, who works on minority rights cases. “No one should be made to feel like a stranger in their own country. This is a worrying sign of prejudice and discrimination.”
Despite these concerns, police officials maintain that the verification is necessary to check fake IDs and unlawful activities. Yet the fear and alienation created by the campaign have led to widespread criticism from residents and activists.
“I appeal to the authorities to stop this harassment and respect the dignity of all citizens, regardless of their religion or state of origin,” said Abdul Rehman. “We want to live peacefully as equal Indians.”
As the verification drive continues, many in Uttarakhand’s Muslim community wait anxiously for clear assurances that they will not be singled out or targeted based on their faith. The ongoing police actions are seen by many as a stain on India’s promise of equality and secularism.
