Uttarakhand Police File FIR Over Social Media Death Threat Video
In a significant development, police in Kotdwar, located within Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, have officially registered a First Information Report (FIR) against an individual accused of uploading a highly inflammatory video on social media platforms. The video in question allegedly contained explicit threats to kill a local resident named Deepak Kumar, along with an offer of a monetary reward amounting to Rs 2 lakh for anyone who would carry out the killing.
Accused Detained in Bihar After Police Investigation
Following a swift and coordinated investigation, law enforcement authorities successfully tracked down and detained the accused individual in Motihari, Bihar. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sarvesh Panwar provided crucial details, revealing that the accused, identified as Utkarsh Singh, admitted to uploading the threatening video. According to SSP Panwar, Singh confessed that his primary motivation was to artificially inflate his social media follower count, capitalizing on the fact that Deepak Kumar's name had been trending extensively across various platforms in recent days.
Background: The Deepak Kumar Controversy
The case stems from a highly publicized incident involving Deepak Kumar, who recently gained widespread attention after a video went viral showing him confronting members of the Bajrang Dal. In the video, Kumar, who introduced himself as 'Mohammed Deepak', was seen standing up against the harassment of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper in Kotdwar. The shopkeeper, Vakeel Ahmed, was allegedly being targeted for using the term 'Baba' in his shop's name. This act of defiance by Kumar and his friend Vijay Rawat has placed them at the center of a heated communal and legal debate.
SSP Panwar elaborated on the police response, stating, "The legal action was initiated after Deepak Kumar formally lodged a complaint at the Kotdwar police station on Sunday, upon discovering the threatening video online. Based on his complaint, a case was registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Our team then traced the accused to Bihar and coordinated with local police there, who subsequently detained him in Motihari district. The accused has asserted that he had no criminal intent behind his actions. We are proceeding with the investigation and will take further appropriate steps as the probe advances."
Political Solidarity and Community Impact
In a show of political support, Rajya Sabha member John Brittas of the CPI(M), representing Kerala, personally met with Deepak Kumar, his family, and friend Vijay Rawat. Brittas praised their courage in confronting over 100 members of a right-wing organization outside Kumar's gymnasium on January 31, an incident that occurred in the presence of police personnel. Following this confrontation, both Kumar and Rawat were named in a separate FIR filed by police based on a complaint from Bajrang Dal members, accusing them of physical assault and criminal intimidation.
Brittas took to his social media account to express solidarity, posting, "I came here to meet my younger brothers to express solidarity on behalf of the people of Kerala, who always uphold communal harmony and brotherhood. I also wanted to appreciate them for their courage to stand up to 150 goondas while very well knowing that they would face harassment. Deepak Kumar, who transformed into 'Muhammad' Deepak, is not merely an individual... he is the diamond-bright light of hope." During his visit, Brittas also enrolled for a yearly membership at Kumar's gymnasium, highlighting that the gym's total membership had plummeted from approximately 150 to just 6-7 following the January 31 episode.
Economic and Social Repercussions
The fallout from these events has had tangible economic consequences. Vijay Rawat confirmed the adverse impact on Kumar's business, noting, "The number of gym members has definitely decreased significantly. We believe many members are now fearful of visiting the gym after the entire episode, as they do not wish to become entangled in any trouble for obvious reasons. Kumar is obligated to pay a monthly rent of Rs 40,000 for the building space where he operates his gymnasium. Despite these challenges, we remain optimistic that the situation will normalize soon. We are committed to continuing our stand for peace and communal harmony."
Brittas further underscored his support by visiting Muhammad Baba's (Vakeel Ahmed) textile shop and making purchases, while also registering a strong protest at the Kotdwar Police Station against what he perceived as biased handling of cases, alleging that the police had filed a case against Deepak Kumar while shielding the rioters.
Attempts to contact Deepak Kumar for comments on these developments were unsuccessful; however, his friend Vijay Rawat provided confirmation regarding the decline in gym membership and reiterated their unwavering commitment to promoting communal harmony in the region.
