Deepak Kumar, a 38-year-old gym trainer from Kotdwar, Uttarakhand state of India, has faced significant backlash after defending a 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper, Vakil Ahmed, from harassment by members of the Bajrang Dal.
Deepak, who runs Hulk Gym, once had 150 active members, but daily footfall has now dropped to just 15 members.
A week after the incident, the town remains divided – some residents have shown support for Deepak, while others feel offended by his actions. “About half the town stands with me, but people rarely appreciate when you do the right thing. Honesty comes at a price,” he said.
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Who is ‘Muhammad Deepak’ & Why This Happened?
On January 26, 38-year-old Deepak intervened when a group of men harassed a 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, demanding he remove the word “Baba” from his shop’s name.
During the confrontation, when asked for his identity, Deepak introduced himself as ‘Mohammad Deepak’.
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A video of the incident quickly went viral, bringing him national attention as well as unwanted scrutiny. On January 31, several members of the Bajrang Dal attempted to confront Deepak, but were stopped by police.
Impact on Gym and Personal Life
Deepak’s gym, Hulk Gym, is run from a rented building with a monthly rent of Rs 40,000. The family has only one income, and Deepak is still repaying a house loan of Rs 16,000 per month. Due to fear and social pressure, many gym members stopped attending, although some loyal members have pledged to continue.
Deepak’s personal life has also been affected. He comes from a modest background, with his mother running a tea stall to support household expenses. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to his principles and appeals for understanding over hatred.
“I still don’t think I have done something wrong,” he said. “I want people to choose the right path, not the wrong one. Spreading hate achieves nothing.”
Incident Sparks Attention all over India
The altercation began as tensions escalated over the shop name. Deepak stepped in to protect the shopkeeper and diffused the situation.
He explained to the Bajrang Dal members that he believed “the greatest religion is humanity” and that actions matter more than labels.
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“I am an ordinary person. I am neither Hindu, nor Muslim, nor Sikh, nor Christian,” Deepak told the media. His choice of the name Mohammad Deepak was deliberate, reflecting his desire to emphasize unity and equal rights for all citizens.
Since the incident, Deepak has received overwhelming support from outside Kotdwar, including MP John Brittas of CPI (M), who visited the gym, took a membership, and registered a protest with local police regarding the threats Deepak faced.
The police have since provided protection to him and deployed additional forces in the town.
