In Kotdwar, an FIR has been registered against Mohammad Deepak, who saved a Muslim shopkeeper from a mob during a dispute over the name of a clothing store.
उत्तराखंड: मोहब्बत के बाज़ार पर नफ़रत का शिकंजा, मुस्लिम दुकानदार को भीड़ से बचाने वाले मोहम्मद दीपक के खिलाफ केस दर्ज
In Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, a man stood up for humanity when tensions were high and the threat of violence loomed. He saved a Muslim shopkeeper who was trapped amidst a mob. Now, an FIR has been registered against that same man, Mohammad Deepak, also known as Deepak Karki, by the police.
This case is not just about the law, but about the question of whether standing up for humanity can become a crime in today’s environment.
The dispute began over the shop’s name
The entire dispute started over the name of a clothing shop on Patel Marg in Kotdwar, Pauri district. The shop’s sign read “Baba,” although the Muslim shopkeeper had also written his own name right below it. Despite this, Bajrang Dal activists objected to the shop’s name and demanded that the word “Baba” be removed from the sign, and began misbehaving with the elderly Muslim shopkeeper.
Seeing the dispute, Mohammad Deepak arrived at the scene. He first tried to reason with the Bajrang Dal activists. When they refused to listen, an argument ensued. After Mohammad Deepak’s intervention, the Bajrang Dal activists finally fled the scene.
Activists from other districts arrive, protests in Kotdwar
The very next day, a large number of Bajrang Dal activists arrived in Kotdwar. Many of them had come from other districts. First, a procession was taken out in the city, and later, they all gathered at Malviya Park and started protesting.
As the crowd grew, the atmosphere in the city became increasingly tense. A video of the Bajrang Dal activists is also going viral, in which they are seen hurling abuses at Mohammad Deepak. The police were also present at the scene. The Bajrang Dal activists were abusing Deepak in front of the police.
The crowd reaches the gym
The situation became even more serious during the protest when some of the protesters reached the gym where the young man worked. A climate of fear and panic ensued among the people present there.
After considerable effort, the police managed to remove the protesters from the area to maintain control of the situation. Two Separate Cases Registered
Based on a complaint filed by clothing store owner Vakil Ahmed, a case has been registered against two named individuals and some unknown persons for allegedly threatening to change the name of the shop.
Additionally, a separate case has been registered against 30 to 40 unknown individuals for allegedly disrupting law and order and communal harmony. Police have also issued a strict warning regarding provocative posts and statements on social media.
The One Who Saved a Life Now Faces Charges
The most significant and shocking aspect of this entire incident is the inclusion of Mohammed Deepak alias Deepak Karki’s name in the FIR.
It is reported that when the situation was escalating, Deepak tried to safely escort a Muslim shopkeeper away from the crowd to prevent any violence.
However, based on a complaint filed by the Bajrang Dal, the police have also registered a case against Deepak. He has been charged under Sections 115(2), 191(1), 351(2), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to the police, all these sections are currently bailable.
SSP Pauri Says: Attempting to Resolve Through Dialogue
According to an ABP News report, SSP Pauri Sarvesh Pawar said that the sections under which the cases have been registered do not provide for arrest.
He stated that the police’s objective is not to take action against any one party, but to control the situation and maintain peace and order.
According to the SSP, efforts are being made to resolve the dispute by engaging in dialogue with both sides to prevent any kind of animosity from spreading in society.
The Kotdwar Incident and the Bigger Question
This incident in Kotdwar is no longer limited to just the shop’s name or the protest. It reflects a social situation where the line between humanity and the law becomes blurred in a tense atmosphere.
The person who tried to save a life before the situation escalated is now part of the legal process. The police are currently investigating the entire matter and maintaining vigilance to ensure peace in the city, but this incident has certainly raised a major question for society.
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