India’s Uttarakhand Police arrest 'Mohammad Deepak' after Facebook dispute with Hindutva activists

Uttarakhand police arrested Kotdwar resident "Mohammad Deepak" following a complaint by businessman Sanjeev Tonk, according to reports on October 1.

The 42-year-old was arrested in connection with a dispute with Tonk over a Facebook post related to the recent controversy in Ujjain surrounding the Shahi Mosque.

The dispute has also been linked to alleged threats issued by Deepak and an allegedly offensive remark about “Hindu society”.

Deepak had previously drawn attention in January after confronting Hindutva activists who were allegedly harassing an elderly Muslim shopkeeper over the use of the word “baba” in the name of his store.

Videos posted by a news website and circulated on social media purportedly show Deepak and another man, identified as a local merchant, arguing. The footage shows Deepak initially speaking with three other people before an argument breaks out between him and the other man. They then walk away from the camera.

Following Deepak’s arrest, a large number of local traders gathered outside Kotwali police station and protested, demanding strict action against him. Police have also been deployed in Kotdwar, according to reports.

The arrest comes months after the Supreme Court stayed proceedings against Deepak in a separate case related to alleged rioting in Uttarakhand.

That case stemmed from the January incident involving Hindutva activists and the Muslim shopkeeper. The activists objected to the shopkeeper using the word “baba” in his store’s name. When asked to reveal his identity during the confrontation, Deepak reportedly told the crowd: “Mohammad Deepak”.

A larger crowd allegedly later gathered to confront Deepak after he intervened on behalf of the shopkeeper. Deepak had named Aman Swedia, Siddhant Badoni, Bhupi Chaudhary and others in his complaint, but state police registered cases against unidentified individuals over alleged disturbances to public order. Another group allegedly gathered outside his gym on January 3.

The Supreme Court also stayed an Uttarakhand High Court order issued on March 20 that had barred Deepak from making social media posts about the incident and the related case.

The High Court had rejected Deepak’s requests for police protection, registration of an FIR against people he said had threatened him and a departmental inquiry into police officials. The court had also accused him of attempting to “sensationalise” the issue.

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This article was originally published in The Wire. It is republished here under special arrangement and with stylistic changes.