HC asks ‘Mohammad Deepak’ how he can seek protection, accuses him of ‘sensationalising’ matter

The Uttarakhand High Court on Thursday told Deepak Kumar, who opposed the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper by alleged Bajrang Dal members, that he was attempting to sensationalise the matter by seeking police protection as part of his petition, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Rakesh Thapliyal made the oral observation while hearing a petition moved by Kumar challenging the case against him and requesting a departmental inquiry against police officers who allegedly failed to act against hate crimes.

The case against Kumar and another person booked in the matter, Vijay Rawat, was filed in late January. The two Hindu men had opposed the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper by alleged Bajrang Dal members in the Pauri Garhwal district.

A mob had on January 26 arrived at the shop of Vakeel Ahmed, objecting to him using the word “Baba” in the name of his shop. Kumar, a gym owner, and Rawat objected to the mob’s actions, after which they were asked not to intervene.

The FIR had been registered based on a complaint by two persons who are members of the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The outfits are a group of Hindutva organisations led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Subsequently, a group of about 40 persons...

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