Bajrang Dal workers confront ‘Mohammed Deepak’ at Kotdwar with anti-Muslim sloganeering, but he refused to budge

Bajrang Dal workers confront ‘Mohammed Deepak’ at Kotdwar with anti-Muslim sloganeering, but he refused to budge

S.M.A. KAZMI

Dehradun, Jan 31

The Bajrang Dal workers affiliate of ruling BJP/RSS from Dehradun and Rishikesh descended on Kotdwar to confront Deepak Kashyap alias ‘Mohammed Deepak’ who had saved an old Muslim shopkeeper from Hindutva mob who wanted him to change the name of shop on January 26, 2026. The Hindutva mob was confronted by Deepak and on being asked about his identity said that his name was ‘Mohammed Deepak’. He became an instant craze on social media where secular media from Kashmir to Kerala and from Bihar to Rajasthan heaped praise on his courage to stand up against the high handedness of the Hindutva mob.

However, he became an eyesore for ruling BJP/RSS affiliates. A large number of Bajrang Dal workers from Dehradun and Rishikesh today reached Kotdwar and started sloganeering against ‘Mohammed Deepak’ challenging him to confront them outside his gymnasium. They raised anti-Muslim slogans and dared him to become a Muslim. They also charged that ‘Mohammed Deepak’ had beaten up an old Bajrang dal worker on January 26.

The Police force had a tough time in restraining both the sides as ‘Mohammed Deepak’ was also infuriated at the sloganeering by Bajrang dal workers against him. Both the sides lodged complaint against each other. The police officials were seen pleadings with the Bajrang Dal workers who enjoy ruling party patronage, to return back. There was tension in the Kotdwar town as traffic on Patel road remained suspended for hours due to Bajrang Dal protest.

‘Mohammed Deepak’ had set an shining example of Hindu-Muslim unity in Uttarakhand by standing up to Hindutva mob where there had been cases of harassment of minority Muslim community members almost on daily basis by such elements.

It was on Republic Day ( Jan 26) that Bajrang Dal mob descended on the shop of an old Muslim shopkeeper on Patel road of Kotdwar. The shop was named “Baba School dress and matching Centre” and the Hindutva mob asked the Muslim shopkeeper to change the name of his name from ‘Baba’ to something else. They argued that only Hindus can have ‘Baba’ name and asked the Muslim to either become a ‘Baba’ or change the name of his shop. The Muslim shopkeeper tried to feebly defend himself but soon entered a young man. He challenged the mob and asked them to get lost. When asked about his identity, he told loudly that he was ‘Mohammad Deepak’. Following a scuffle in the market, the Hindutva members decided to flee.

The young man who identified himself as “Mohammed Deepak” was in fact Deepal Kumar Kashyap , a young Gym trainer of the town who is known to side with just causes.