In Uttarakhand’s Kotdwar, people associated with the Bajrang Dal allegedly threatened a Muslim shopkeeper, demanding that he change the name of his shop. During the incident, gym trainer and gym owner Deepak Kumar stepped in to intervene, only to find himself at the centre of the controversy. In this interview, Deepak and Vijay Rawat explain how people who came from Dehradun on January 26 escalated the situation, why Deepak introduced himself as “Muhammad Deepak,” and how he later ended up facing an FIR for speaking out. The conversation also raises serious questions about the role of the police and administration, and the impact the incident has had on Deepak’s family and livelihood.

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