The 'Mohammad Deepak' Stand: Man Defends Elderly Muslim Shopkeeper In Uttarakhand, Faces Mob Fury

Last Updated:February 01, 2026, 19:15 IST

A group of men, allegedly from a right-wing outfit, had accosted 70-year-old Vakeel Ahmed, demanding he remove the word 'Baba' from his signboard

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. Representational image

In a display of communal tension that has gripped Kotdwar in Uttarakhand’s Pauri Garhwal district, a mob of over forty individuals gathered on Saturday to protest against a local man who stood up to defend an elderly Muslim shopkeeper. The incident has sparked a heated debate over religious identity and the right to conduct business without intimidation in the hill state.

The friction began on January 26, when Deepak Kumar, a local gym owner and fitness influencer, intervened during a confrontation at a shop named “Baba School Dress". A group of men, allegedly associated with a right-wing outfit, had accosted the 70-year-old shopkeeper, Vakeel Ahmed, demanding he remove the word “Baba" from his signboard. They argued that the term is exclusive to Hindu religious figures and that its use by a Muslim merchant was misleading.

Deepak Kumar, who was at a friend’s shop nearby, stepped in to question the harassment. In a video that subsequently went viral, Kumar is seen asking the group why they were targeting an elderly man over a business name that had existed for thirty years. When the mob aggressively demanded to know his identity, Kumar replied, “My name is 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 success of the video, a counter-mobilisation took place on Saturday. A group of approximately forty people assembled at a local park in Kotdwar, raising slogans against Kumar and labelling his actions as provocative. Protesters claimed that his self-introduction as “Mohammad Deepak" created religious confusion. Kumar has since reported receiving threats against his family and his place of business, stating that he feels intimidated despite the police presence during the sloganeering.

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. While the police have identified several individuals involved in the initial harassment on Republic Day, Kumar has expressed frustration that no formal action has yet been taken regarding the specific threats made against him during Saturday’s assembly.

This incident follows a string of communal flashpoints in the state, including recent reports of attacks on Kashmiri traders. Local leaders have expressed concern that such events are damaging the social fabric and the peaceful image of Uttarakhand.

News india The 'Mohammad Deepak' Stand: Man Defends Elderly Muslim Shopkeeper In Uttarakhand, Faces Mob Fury

Read More