Hindu organisations staged protests on Thursday after a video surfaced online showing a man allegedly spitting on tandoori roti at a restaurant in Uttarakhand. The protesters said the act had hurt religious sentiments.
Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKRAND) gathered in the main market at Hanuman Chowk, shouting slogans and forcing shops to close.
Several local Hindu traders also joined the protest, demanding action and justice. Shops later reopened in view of the upcoming Diwali festival.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Janak Panwar said the police received complaints on Wednesday night that an employee at a restaurant near a petrol pump had spat on food, angering locals. A video of the incident had gone viral on social media.
Following this, police registered a case under Sections 295(A) (hurting religious sentiments) and 274 (food adulteration) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The Food Safety Department has also started the process of cancelling the restaurant’s licence based on the police report.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, president of the Minority Seva Samiti, condemned the act and called it “shameful.” He urged people to maintain peace and harmony, calling for a social boycott of those responsible.
To prevent further tension, the police and local administration held a meeting with members of Hindu organisations and traders to maintain law and order in the area.
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