Uttarakhand Police has registered three FIRs in connection with the Republic Day altercation in Kotdwar in Pauri Garhwal district involving Bajrang Dal members and a local individual named Deepak Kumar Kashyap, who stood by an elderly Muslim shopkeeper facing harassment from Right-wing activists.
One of the cases, which relates to a demonstration against Kashyap by Bajrang Dal workers in January 31, mentions unidentified men. They are charged with blocking National Highway 119 and allegedly disturbing public order while demanding action against Kashyap and his associate, Vijay Rawat.
Combing through footage of the incident, Alt News could identify at least five individuals. Their association with Right-wing political outfits and involvement in Hindutva activism are well documented as well.
What Transpired on January 26?
On Monday, January 26, a mob of Hindutva vigilantes ambushed a 70-year-old shop owner, Vakeel Ahmed, in Kotdwar in Uttarakhand over the use of the word ‘Baba’ in the shop’s name. According to them, ‘Baba’ is associated with Baba Siddhabali, a revered religious site and centre of faith in the area. This is when a middle-aged man intervened and asked them what authority they had to demand a name change. He also asked the shop owner if he was willing to change the name of his 30-year-old shop.
When asked his name, the man replied, “Mohammed Deepak… What does my name have to do with anything?” Deepak, who was later identified as Deepak Kumar Kashyap, told the Indian Express, “They asked me my name, and in anger, I said I was Mohammad Deepak. I intended to convey that I was an Indian and everyone was equal before the law.”
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Days after the incident, a group of more than 40 Bajrang Dal workers assembled in Kotdwar to protest against Deepak’s act. According to Deepak, police merely witnessed as the mob stood for hours and levelled threats and abuses against his family.
Three FIRs followed. One against Mohammed Deepak and Vijay Rawat, who was also present during the January 26 confrontation, filed by two Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal members named Gaurav Kashyap and Kamal Pal. It was alleged that the accused men had attacked them, snatched their money, watch and phone and used caste-based slurs to intimidate them. The second FIR was filed by the shop owner, who alleged that a few local men were threatening him to change the name of his shop, “Baba School Dress”.
A detailed report by The Hindu can be read here:
The third FIR was registered against 30 to 40 “unidentified individuals” for inciting communal disharmony. The charges include obstructing a national highway and manhandling police personnel.
SSP Pauri Garhwal Sarvesh Kanwar confirmed this to media persons.
Are the Individuals Really Unidentified?
Alt News found an Instagram video posted by user @dehradun_exclusive of the protests that were held on January 31. In it, a large crowd of people can be seen marching while several men, who proclaim to be Bajrang Dal workers, issue threats to Kumar using expletives outside a gym that he owns. Some police personnel can be seen at the spot. One man jumps over policemen in an attempt to reach Kumar, standing at a distance, and several others follow.
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Alt News was able to identify at least five of the men who were present at the January 31 ruckus. Their photos, political affiliations and social media handles are given below:
- Aman Swedia, Bajrang Dal district coordinator, Dehradun
2. Siddhant Badoni
3. Naresh Uniyal, Bajrang Dal Gau Raksha chief
4. Bhupi Choudhary (Bajrang Dal worker)
5. Sachin Choudhary
The man seen jumping over the police personnel and trying to reach Deepak Kumar is Siddhant Badoni (See below).
We found that Aman Swedia and Bhupi Chaudhary frequently engaged in vigilante activities together, much of which is documented on the @dehradun_exclusive Instagram handle. On January 19, Swedia and his associates visited a shop called Pundir Tailor, run by a Muslim man, Abdul Jabbar. In a stunt similar to the January 26 incident, they intimidated the shopkeeper, claiming he could not operate a business under a Hindu surname.
The caption accompanying the video states that Jabbar had “anti-Hindu and anti–Modi-Yogi posts” on his phone, which the group reportedly accessed without a warrant. The caption further claimed that he was later handed over to police.
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In other videos that surfaced later, Swedia and his team can be seen vandalizing the shop’s hoarding and the shop keeper being taken away by a policeman on his bike. Later, the owners of the neighboring shops issued video statements in solidarity with the Jabbar.
Why is there no action against these Bajrang Dal goons @DehradunPolice pic.twitter.com/M4Dh6QrK7B
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) January 27, 2026
In another instance, Chaudhary is seen roughing up a man in the presence of police after accusing him of ‘Love Jihad’.
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Swedia and his associates were also responsible for the cancellation of a show by rapper Seedhe Maut, alleging that such concerts featured “obscene songs,” consumption of alcohol and banned substances, and the use of “indecent and provocative language” toward women. The caption claimed that “programmes like this spread false culture among the youth and work to spoil society,” as the group’s members proudly proclaimed their “conquest.
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In another video, Naresh Uniyal is seen disrupting Christmas celebrations attended by children, claiming that the religion promotes the consumption of cow meat. “You should be ashamed of yourselves… whoever has even a little shame, leave this place,” he is heard shouting into a microphone. The video later showed a scuffle that broke out on the podium.
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The individuals flagged in this story also routinely “confront” alleged drug users, claiming to act on “secret tips.” Several videos show them taking law in their own hands and manhandling women. Such actions underline the dangers of allowing vigilante groups led by figures like Swedia to operate with impunity.
A complaint was filed against Aman Swedia in June 2025 for allegedly inciting religious sentiments, defaming, and causing public unrest on social media against Shri Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib in Dehradun. The Darbar administration had made serious allegations against him in a letter issued by the chief administrator of the Darbar, Vijay Gulati, and demanded strict action. Swedia allegedly shared many objectionable, misleading and derogatory posts and videos against Darbar Sahib, Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital and Mahant Devendra Das from his Facebook account between April 29 and May 2. The complaint additionally states that the accused had attempted to vandalize the Hanuman Akhara and Hanuman Temple and incite people by portraying the organization as a religious business.
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