Security tightened in Kotdwar as ‘Mohammad Deepak’ row sparks political standoff

The Uttarakhand police have significantly stepped up security measures in Kotdwar following communal tensions triggered by a local gym owner, Deepak Kumar, standing up for an elderly Muslim shopkeeper against a mob.

Police teams were deployed across major routes, markets, and public areas on Tuesday to maintain law and order as the incident evolved into a political flashpoint between the ruling BJP and the Congress. Pauri Garhwal Police stated they are exercising "continuous and effective vigilance" with regular patrols and vehicle checks to identify disruptive activities. Station House Officer Pradeep Negi confirmed that entry to the town has been restricted for social media influencers to avert untoward situations, while specific security cover was provided to Kumar at his gym on his birthday Tuesday.

The controversy stems from a January 26 incident where Kumar intervened when a group harassed Vakeel Ahmed, a 70-year-old shopkeeper suffering from Parkinson’s disease, demanding he remove the word "Baba" from his shop's name.

After a video of the confrontation went viral, earning Kumar the moniker "Mohammad Deepak" from detractors, members of the Bajrang Dal gathered to confront him but were restrained by police. Three FIRs have been registered in connection with the episode: one based on the shopkeeper's complaint, another against Kumar and his friend Vijay Rawat by a local resident, and a third by the police against unknown persons associated with the Bajrang Dal.

Kumar asserted that he remains unfazed by the protests, stating his actions were motivated by humanity and that he is "accountable only to God."

The incident has sparked a sharp political exchange, with BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt accusing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of attempting to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere of "Devbhoomi" and questioning if the event was pre-planned.

In response, Congress senior vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana alleged that the state government is encouraging communal polarisation to retain power. Dhasmana questioned the police bias, noting that specific cases were filed against Kumar and Rawat while the mob members were registered as "unknown persons," and linked the event to recent assaults on minorities including a Tripura student and a Kashmiri shawl seller.