# ‘My Name Is Mohammad Deepak’: Hindu Man Saves Elderly Muslim Shopkeeper from Hindutva Mob in Uttarakhand, Faces Threats

> Deepak Kumar, a gym owner in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, is facing threats after defending 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper Wakeel Ahmed from harassment by men claiming to be Bajrang Dal members. In a viral video, Deepak declare…

Published: 2026-02-05 · Desk: Latest · Source: Hindustan Times

Gym Owner in Uttarakhand Faces Threats After Defending Muslim Shopkeeper

Deepak Kumar, 46, a gym owner in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, has come under threat after protecting a Muslim shopkeeper from harassment by men claiming to be members of the Hindutva group Bajrang Dal. In an Instagram video, Deepak said, “I am not a Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or Christian. First and foremost, I am a human being. After I die, I will answer to God and humanity, not any religion.”

The incident occurred on January 26, when Deepak saw a mob threatening 70-year-old shopkeeper Wakeel Ahmed, demanding that he remove the word “Baba” from his shop’s name, Baba School Dress. The men claimed the term could only be used for Hindu religious figures.

In a viral video, Deepak confronted the mob, asking, “The shop is 30 years old; will you change the name?” When asked his identity, he replied, “My name is Mohammad Deepak”, intending to convey that all citizens are equal under the law.

Since then, Deepak has faced online harassment from right-wing users on X, Instagram, and Facebook, while receiving support from many Muslims and others backing his secular stance.

Police have filed two FIRs in connection with the case. Wakeel Ahmed reported that three to four young men, claiming to be Bajrang Dal members, threatened him with dire consequences if he did not remove “Baba” from his shop name. The accused have been identified as Gaurav Kashyap and Shakti Singh Gonsai.

Kotdwar Police registered cases under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including voluntarily causing hurt, house trespass with intent to harm, criminal intimidation, and intentional insult. A separate FIR was filed against 30–40 unidentified individuals for inciting communal disharmony, obstructing a national highway, and manhandling police personnel. Many accused reportedly traveled from Dehradun and Haridwar.

The situation escalated when a larger group of Bajrang Dal workers protested outside Deepak’s gym, demanding he appear in public. In a video of the protest, workers shouted that he had “shut his gym and fled” and mocked him for defending Muslims, urging him to “wear a skull cap and become a Muslim” if he truly cared.

Despite the threats, Deepak has stated, “I will not back down,” emphasizing that India needs love and harmony rather than hatred.

Original reporting: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/my-name-is-mohammad-deepak-hindu-man-confronts-mob-bullying-muslim-man-in-uttarakhand-faces-threats-101769920262505-amp.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawPxLUxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0ckw1N0ZVVjgzTHQxZnAyc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiVQCTFrxTujdxiwBV5m5-70PYdQ46Nb4oi2s7hTpL9a3sLv45fBpENHef45_aem_zrmWaOCy0si8KExYO2ktlQ
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