Muslim shopkeepers open shop after Nainital HC intervention but no end to their woes
Muslim shopkeepers open shop after Nainital HC intervention but no end to their woes
Dehradun, July 29
Following the intervention of the Nainital High Court and the assurance given by the state counsel in the court, two Muslim shopkeepers, opened their shops after a month. These two Muslim shopkeepers had to shut their shops after being threatened by the Hindutva groups members since June 18, 2026.
Both the Muslim shopkeepers who are brothers had their bangles and cosmetics shops in Jhanda bazar of Dehradun had approached the Nainital high Court after failing to get any response from police and district administration regarding threats and forcible closure of their shops.
Taking up the writ petition, Justice Alok Mahra of Nainital High Court on July 23, 2026 observed that the state government counsel had obtained instructions from the state government in the matter. “ On the basis of the said instructions, he submits that the shop of the petitioners has remained closed for the past one month and, therefore, the investigating agency has not been able to collect the requisite evidence from the premises. It is further submitted that there is no restraint upon the petitioners from opening the shop and carrying on their lawful business. Learned State Counsel further assures the Court that, in the event the petitioners reopen the shop and any untoward incident or threat to law and order arises, the concerned authorities shall provide them with adequate police protection in accordance with law.
The Judge said that in view of the aforesaid statement made on behalf of the State, no further orders are called for in the present writ petition and accordingly, disposed it off.
The petitioners had alleged that a mob of Hindutva Bajrang dal members had stormed their shops on June 18, 2026 and ransacked it,smashing and looting goods and even damaging the CCTV cameras.
A FIR was lodged on June 19, 2026, FIR no 218/2026, Under sections 115 (2), 191(2), 324 (2) and 351 (3) and 352 of BNS at kotwali police station. Even after the registration of FIR, the Hindutva group members continue to threaten them against opening their shops claiming that they would not allow any Muslim to open shop in their area.
The petitioners approached the Chief Minister, Dehradun District Magistrate and SSP on July 2026 but to no avail. Later, they approached the Nainital High Court of redressal of their grievance.
Even after opening of their shops after more than a month, there is no end to their woes. Now a team of Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) have asked them to show sanctioned maps of their shops. They plead that since none in the area had maps sanctioned how can they be singled out.
