Uttarakhand: Hindutva Supporters Harass Muslim Shop Manager in Dehradun, FIR Lodged
Screengrab from Video. Image Courtesy: Twitter/@HindutvaWatchIn
New Delhi: In a disturbing incident that unfolded on January 9 in Dehradun in Uttarakhand, a video went viral capturing showing Hindutva supporters allegedly harassing a Muslim shop manager over 'Jai Shri Ram' posters at Aman General Store, ISBT Haridwar Road.
Following the incident, the Uttarakhand Police has filed a case against one Radha Dhoni, who was leading the group, and others, under provisions of the Indian Penal Code dealing with promoting enmity between groups, hurting religious sentiments and statements conducing to public mischief, according to a report in Scroll.
A report published in India today said the shop, owned by one Rakesh Borai, was rented to Girish, a Raipur resident who had employed one Shahnavaz from Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur to manage the store.
The controversy erupted when Hindu group leader Radha Dhoni and her associates visited the shop, objecting to the posters related to 'Jai Shri Ram' pasting inn the shop, and claiming that it “hurt religious sentiments”. In the video the group can be seen removing a board and posters.
According to India Today, it was Ashish Aswal, a traffic police constable, who filed a complaint with the Dehradun Police, prompting them to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Radha Dhoni and others under Sections 153A, 295 A, and Section 502 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Read Also: A Season of ‘Islamophobia’ in Uttarakhand
The report said that the police clarified that Borai had instructed Girish not to alter the shop's identity or remove any items, emphasising the importance of maintaining ownership integrity.
The video shared on social media shows Hindutva supporters objecting to the 'Jai Shri Ram' poster, while two Muslim men, including manager Mohammed Ayub Khan, seen saying repeatedly that they were employees and not owners. Subsequently, the Hindu outfit’s supporters can be seen taking down the poster.
— Dehradun Police Uttarakhand (@DehradunPolice) January 10, 2024
Akib Qureshi, an activist in Dehradun, told Scroll, that a Muslim delegation met the superintendent of police, urging strict action against extremist groups.
Qureshi emphasised the need for the police to act decisively to ensure communal harmony and peace in the region. “These incidents keep happening every now and then,” Qureshi told Scroll. “The police need to act strictly against these extremist groups so that everyone can live in peace.”
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