Hindu extremists target Muslim shopkeeper in India
Elderly Muslim vendor in Uttar Pradesh threatened by radical Hindu group over shop name, raising concerns over identity-based targeting
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — An elderly Muslim tea seller in northern India was publicly threatened and forced to remove his shop banner after members of Hindu extremist group objected to the name of his stall, in an incident that has renewed debate over religious identity and business rights in the country’s most populous state.
The confrontation took place near Roohery Bypass in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, politically influential state governed by Bharatiya Janata Party, which promotes ideology of Hindutva, or Hindu majoritarian nationalism. Video of the episode circulated widely on social media, showing activists arguing with shop owner while police officers stood nearby.
Tea stall had operated for years under the name “Kundan Tea Stall,” with banner also displaying words “Baba Shamsher.” Members of the group led by Deepak Sharma, founder of organization called Rashtriya Swabhiman Dal, objected to the name, accusing the owner of concealing his Muslim identity by using term they associated with Hindu tradition.
In footage, Sharma is heard questioning shopkeeper, Shamsher Khan, about why his shop carried the name “Kundan.” When the elderly vendor struggled to remove the banner, one of the men tore it down with a sharp object as police personnel looked on. The officers were also seen asking the person recording the video to stop filming.
Legal specialists say Indian law does not prohibit business owners from choosing a particular name for shop unless it violates trademark rules or specific regulatory restrictions. “Running a shop under chosen name is not illegal,” said a lawyer in Hathras, noting there is no statute preventing Muslim citizens from using words such as Kundan.
The term “Kundan,” widely used in Hindi and Urdu, refers to refined gold and carries cultural meaning linked to purity and craftsmanship. It is not exclusive to any one religious community.
Rights advocates and local residents say the incident reflects broader climate in parts of northern India, where Muslim traders have reported pressure over food practices, personal names and display of religious identity.
Uttar Pradesh, home to more than 200 million people, has seen repeated tensions between the majority Hindu population and sizable Muslim minority, which constitutes roughly one-fifth of state’s residents.
Police have not issued a public statement detailing whether any action was taken against those involved. The role of officers present in the video has drawn scrutiny, as they did not intervene while the banner was removed.
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