Elderly Muslim shop owner targeted by Hindutva group in Mumbai
Mumbai: In yet another incident highlighting the vulnerability of Muslims in Modi’s India, an elderly Muslim shop owner was subjected to religious abuse, intimidation and harassment by members of a Hindutva group inside his showroom in Mumbai city of BJP-ruled Maharashtra state.
According to Kashmir Media Servie, Rafat Hussain, owner of Mannat Ethnic Designer, said four women entered his showroom on the pretext of inquiring about sherwanis (long, formal, coat-like garments) and wedding suits before launching into a tirade of religious abuse.
Hussain said the women began insulting him and targeting his Muslim identity, telling him, “You are a Muslim, you live in a certain way, and you do things in the wrong way.”
Fearing for his safety, Hussain rushed to the nearest police station. He said that within 20 to 25 minutes, nearly 150 people gathered outside the station, raising communal slogans, while 20 to 25 Hindutva activists attempted to force their way inside to assault him.
Hussain further said that instead of taking action against the women, police registered an FIR against him based on their complaint.
Deeply shaken by the incident, Hussain said he no longer feels safe even inside his own showroom. “My only crime is that I have a beard and wear a cap,” he said in a video that has gone viral on social media.
He said the incident appeared to be pre-planned, questioning how such a large crowd could assemble within minutes if the women had genuinely visited the shop for shopping. Referring to increasing attacks on Muslims across Modi’s India, Hussain said he believed he had been deliberately targeted but managed to escape by seeking refuge at the police station.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many users condemning the communal targeting of a Muslim businessman and questioning the police response.
