Communal Tensions Flare as Muslim Worker Assaulted for Using Hindu Name at Dhaba Along Kanwar Yatra Route in UP
A disturbing episode of communal tension has surfaced in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, just ahead of the annual Kanwar Yatra, after a Muslim worker, Tajammul, was found working at a roadside dhaba under the assumed Hindu name “Gopal” to avoid harassment from local Hindu groups.
The incident took place at Pandit Ji Vaishno Dhaba, situated on National Highway 58, a key route frequented by Kanwar pilgrims. Following protests from members of a Hindu group, the dhaba has now been shut down.
“I Was Told to Use a Hindu Name”
In an interview with NDTV, Tajammul openly admitted that he was working under a false identity—not out of deception, but out of fear.
“My name is Tajammul,” he said. “I was asked to go by Gopal so I could work at the dhaba without creating trouble. Sharma ji, the dhaba owner, told me to do so.”
Tajammul explained that he was instructed to conceal his Muslim identity and present himself as Hindu in order to avoid backlash from religious groups that had begun conducting identity checks of food vendors along the Kanwar Yatra route.
“They told me to wear a kada (a religious bangle),” he added. “I wore it for three months so I wouldn’t be recognised.”
Assault and Intimidation
The situation escalated on June 28, when Swami Yashveer Ji Maharaj, a local religious figure, along with several of his associates, visited the dhaba as part of what they described as an “identification campaign” to verify the religious affiliations of food vendors.
Tajammul, still operating under the name “Gopal,” tried to evade questioning by claiming he had lost his Aadhaar card and that his phone was broken. But video footage later circulated online shows him being physically manhandled and assaulted, including having his pants forcibly pulled down.
“They beat me and I was crying,” Tajammul recalled. “I was scared for my life.”
Police Response and Legal Action
The Muzaffarnagar police have since summoned six individuals for questioning in relation to the incident: Sumit Bahraghi, Rohit, Vivek, Sumit, Sunny, and Rakesh, all reportedly linked to Swami Yashveer’s Yoga Sadhana Ashram in Baghra.
No arrests have been made so far, though police officials have confirmed that an investigation is underway. Senior officers have stated that they are reviewing video evidence and will take further action based on legal findings.
Policy and Political Backdrop
The incident takes place against a broader, more controversial backdrop. The Uttar Pradesh government had recently issued a directive mandating all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display food licenses and owner details, including religious identity where applicable.
While the government defends the directive as a move for transparency, critics and opposition parties argue that it fosters communal discrimination and puts Muslim vendors at risk of harassment or worse.
Civil rights activists have condemned the incident, saying it reflects a growing climate of fear and religious profiling in public spaces.
“No one should be forced to hide their identity to earn a living,” one rights group said in a statement. “This is not just discrimination—it’s humiliation and violence sanctioned by silence.”
Rising Pattern of Vigilantism
The assault on Tajammul is not an isolated case. In recent years, there has been a surge in vigilante actions across India, particularly in regions with Hindu pilgrimage traffic, where right-wing groups have taken it upon themselves to “verify” the religion of vendors and workers.
Critics warn that such acts of social policing, especially when backed by subtle official endorsement, threaten the secular ethos of India and endanger the livelihoods and dignity of entire communities.
As the Kanwar Yatra progresses and thousands of pilgrims continue their journey across Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states, questions are being raised about freedom, fear, and fairness—not just on the roads but in the soul of the republic.
( News Published at NDTV )
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