By: The Trek News Desk
The past few days have been extremely challenging for Deepak Kumar, the owner of Hulk Gym in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. After standing up in support of an elderly Muslim shopkeeper, Deepak received appreciation from people across the country. Still, at the local level, the incident has taken a toll on his livelihood. A gym that once had around 150 members is now left with only 15.
The 38-year-old came into the public eye following an incident on January 26, when he intervened as a group of people allegedly harassed a 70-year-old Muslim shopkeeper suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The shopkeeper was being pressured to remove the word “Baba” from his shop’s name. During the confrontation, when asked about his identity, Deepak introduced himself as “Mohammad Deepak.” A video of the incident soon went viral on social media.
Following the circulation of the video, members associated with the Bajrang Dal reportedly gathered on January 31 to confront Deepak, though the situation was brought under control by the police. Since then, the atmosphere in the town has undergone noticeable changes. According to Deepak, the community now appears divided; one section stands in solidarity with him, while the other is displeased with his actions.
Deepak said the biggest impact of the episode has been on his gym business. The gym operates from a rented building, with a monthly rent of ₹40,000. It is the family’s sole source of income, and he is also repaying a home loan with a monthly instalment of ₹16,000. He added that many people have stopped coming to the gym out of fear, a reaction he says he understands.
Despite the setback, the remaining members have assured him of their continued support. Deepak pointed out that in the fitness business, once a member leaves, it is often difficult to bring them back.
On Sunday, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP and leader of the party’s parliamentary group, John Brittas, visited Kotdwar and met both the elderly shopkeeper, Vakeel Ahmed, and Deepak Kumar. The party stated on social media that Brittas also took a gym membership, noting that the facility had become nearly deserted due to alleged communal pressure. He also raised concerns over the police response and protested at the Kotdwar police station.
Deepak maintained that he does not regret his decision to speak up. While he continues to receive support from outside the town, he believes local acceptance will take time. Expressing optimism, he said the situation is improving gradually and will get better.
Meanwhile, the police have increased security for Deepak and deployed additional forces in the area to prevent any untoward incident.
Source: News Agencies
