Deepak, Who Confronted Mob Bullying Kotdwar Shopkeeper, Attacked, Says Police Promised Action

Last Updated:February 05, 2026, 22:15 IST

The shopkeeper identified as Vakil Ahmed, said his business had been operating for nearly 30 years without any objections to its name.

Days after defending Advocate Ahmed’s Baba School Dress & Matching Centre in Dehradun’s Kotdwar, gym trainer Deepak Kumar said that some people attacked him on Wednesday after which the police summoned him to the station and assured him that such incidents would not recur.

In a self made video, Deepak said that appealed to people seeking to meet him to wait for the appropriate time and urged everyone to remain where they are for the moment.

“Yesterday, some people attacked me. Afterwards, the police called me to the station, spoke with me, and assured me that whatever had happened should not have. They also said that such an incident would never happen again. I urge people who are trying to meet me that when the time comes, we will meet, but right now, everyone should stay wherever they are," he said.

This comes after several Hindu organisations raised objections to the name of a garment shop called Baba School Garments in Kotdwar, arguing that the word “Baba," associated with Hindu religious tradition and the Siddhabali Baba Hanuman temple, should not be used by a Muslim shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper identified as Vakil Ahmed, said his business had been operating for nearly 30 years without any objections to its name. He maintained that the word “Baba" is used across religions and is not exclusive to Hinduism.

After this, Deepak Kumar intervened during the argument and spoke with members of the Bajrang Dal and other groups. As tensions rose and he was questioned about his identity, he introduced himself as Mohammad Deepak, a statement he later explained was intended to symbolise national unity and the equality of all citizens before the law.

Following the viral circulation of the video, around forty people gathered at a local park in Kotdwar on Saturday, raising slogans against Deepak Kumar and condemning his actions as provocative.

Protesters alleged that his self-introduction as “Mohammad Deepak" caused religious confusion. Kumar has reported receiving threats to his family and business, saying he feels intimidated despite the police presence during the protest.

The Uttarakhand Police have registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Vakeel Ahmed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including voluntarily causing hurt and criminal intimidation.

This incident comes amid a series of communal flashpoints in the state, including recent attacks on Kashmiri traders. Local leaders have expressed concern that such events are harming Uttarakhand’s social harmony and peaceful reputation.

News india Deepak, Who Confronted Mob Bullying Kotdwar Shopkeeper, Attacked, Says Police Promised Action

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