Elderly Mumbai Trader Alleges Religious Harassment Inside His Shop
A Muslim businessman in Mumbai claims he was abused over his faith and fears the incident was part of a planned attempt to target him.
Mumbai: An elderly Muslim businessman from Juhu has alleged that he was subjected to religious abuse and intimidation inside his own showroom, sparking widespread discussion after a video of his account circulated on social media.
Rafat Hussain, owner of Mannat Ethnic Designer, said the incident occurred on June 13 when four women entered his showroom and asked about sherwanis and suits for a wedding. According to Hussain, the interaction initially appeared normal but soon took an unexpected turn.
He claimed the women began speaking aggressively and making remarks about his religious identity. Hussain alleged that they insulted him for being Muslim and continued to verbally abuse him inside the store.
Feeling unsafe, Hussain said he immediately left the showroom and went to the nearest police station to seek protection.
According to his account, within a short period a large crowd gathered outside the police station, with people raising slogans. Hussain alleged that some members of the crowd attempted to enter the station and attack him. He said police personnel later helped move him to safety.
Hussain also claimed that instead of taking action against those who threatened him, the women filed a police complaint against him. While at the station, he contacted AIMIM leaders Waris Pathan and Imtiaz Jaleel for assistance.
He further alleged that a police officer present at the station appeared unwilling to acknowledge the situation outside, despite the crowd that had gathered.
The trader said the experience has left him deeply shaken and fearful. He stated that he now feels uncomfortable even standing inside his own showroom and believes he was targeted because of his appearance and religious identity.
Questioning how such a large crowd assembled so quickly, Hussain expressed suspicion that the episode may have been planned in advance. He said the events have increased his concerns about the safety and treatment of Muslims in different parts of the country.
The video of Hussain describing the incident has since gone viral, prompting strong reactions online. Many social media users have raised concerns about alleged communal targeting and questioned the response of law enforcement authorities.