The man, who allegedly beat up an elderly Muslim for offering namaz, is now accused of stopping and pressuring a young Muslim child to chant the Hindu mantra
UDHAM SINGH NAGAR – A new video from this district in Uttarakhand has shocked many people across the country. In it, Arvind Sharma, who manages the Ataria Devi Temple, stops a minor Muslim girl on the road and makes her say “Jai Shri Ram”. The girl looks scared as Sharma questions her faith and puts pressure on her until she speaks the words.
The video begins with Sharma exiting his car. He calls the girl closer and asks her straight, “Do you believe in God?” The child nods and says yes. He then asks, “Do you believe in Allah?” The girl answers clearly, “Yes, I believe in Allah and I have faith in him.”
Sharma does not stop there. He tells her, “When you believe in Allah and can say ‘La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah’, then why can you not say ‘Jai Shri Ram’?” The minor girl looks worried. She nods her head slowly. Under fear and pressure, she finally says the words “Jai Shri Ram”. The video ends there.
People who saw the clip say the girl was forced. One social media user wrote, “A small child should not be treated like this. She was alone and afraid.” Another person posted, “This is wrong. No one has the right to scare a minor and make her say something against her own faith.”
This is the second time Arvind Sharma has come into the news for actions against Muslims. Only a few days earlier, another video went viral. In that clip, Sharma is seen beating an elderly Muslim man named Shahid. Shahid was offering namaz quietly in an empty field near the temple. He was not harming anyone. Sharma reached the spot, started shouting abuses and then hit him with sticks and rods.
Shahid was badly hurt. He went to the police and filed a case against Sharma and one other person. The police acted on the complaint. Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Ganpati told reporters, “We arrested Arvind Sharma last night and sent him to jail.” The SSP also said that Sharma already had several old cases of fraud against him. The police have now added Section 196 to the case.
Sharma calls himself the manager of Ataria Devi Temple and is known to be close to a Hindu organisation. Many people say his actions show a clear pattern of targeting Muslims. First, he attacked an elderly man during peaceful prayer. Now he has stopped a little girl and questioned her religion before forcing her to chant a slogan of another faith.
Indian Muslims in Udham Singh Nagar and nearby areas are worried. One resident, who did not want to be named because of fear, said, “Our children go to school and play outside. After seeing this video, parents are scared to let them go alone. We are Indian citizens and we have the right to live without fear.”
Another person from the Muslim community added, “Namaz is our peaceful duty. Beating someone for praying is bad enough. But forcing a small girl is even worse. The government must protect us.”
The videos have spread fast on social media. Thousands of people have shared them and demanded strict punishment for Sharma. Many are asking why such incidents keep happening to Muslims in Uttarakhand. They say violence and unfair treatment against Muslims has become too common in the state.
Police records indicate that Sharma has a history of prior cases. Still, he was free to move around and harass people again. This has left many asking questions about police work and the safety of the minority community.
The minor girl in the latest video belongs to a poor family. She was walking on the road when Sharma’s car stopped. No adult was with her at that time. Her family has not spoken publicly yet, but neighbours say the child came home upset and told them what happened.
Rights groups and Muslim organisations have called for quick action. They say the case should be treated as a serious one because a child is involved. One activist said, “This is not about one man. It is about making sure every Indian Muslim, especially children, feels safe in their own country.”
The first incident happened outside the temple area in an open field. Shahid, the elderly man, had chosen that spot because it was empty. He was in the middle of his prayers when Sharma arrived and lost his temper. The beating was recorded clearly and the video showed Sharma using force without any reason.
After the arrest, the SSP confirmed that Sharma is now in jail. The police say they are looking at both cases together. They have promised a fair investigation.
Yet the Muslim community wants more than promises. They want to see real protection so that no more such incidents take place. “We pray for peace every day,” one elder said. “We only ask for the same peace in return.”
This matter has once again put the spotlight on how some people linked to Hindu groups treat Indian Muslims. Arvind Sharma’s repeated actions have exposed a troubling side of things in parts of Uttarakhand. The minor girl’s frightened face in the video has become a symbol for many who feel Muslims are being singled out.
As the videos continue to circulate, calls for justice are growing louder. People across the country are watching to see what steps the authorities take next. For the Indian Muslim community in the state, the demand is simple: stop the harassment and let us live with dignity and safety.
The police have a chance to show that the law works for everyone. The people of Uttarakhand, especially its Muslim citizens, are waiting for real action.
