|| Online Desk: A Muslim shopkeeper was harassed by self-styled gau rakshak (protector of the cow) Raja Rawat and his associates in Uttar Pradesh’s Vrindavan. The groups also threatened the shopkeeper that they would not allow the shop to reopen.The incident took place under the jurisdiction of PGI Police Station, where the shop, operated by Arif Muradabadi inside Trades Mall, was targeted by the group.According to the shopkeeper, the group objected to a thread tied around a wooden stick used for applying oil on rotis. They claimed the thread was a kalava, a sacred Hindu thread, and questioned its use inside a non-vegetarian restaurant.What began as an objection over the “thread” soon escalated, with the group threatening the shopkeeper and demanding that the outlet be shut down.Videos of the confrontation have since surfaced on social media, showing Raja Rawat and his associates inside the shop. In one of the clips, six to seven members of the group can be seen harassing the Muslim shopkeeper repeatedly, while threatening him that they won’t allow the shop to reopen.The incident has triggered widespread reactions online, with many raising concerns over the targeting of food businesses in the name of religion. Several social media users questioned why eateries owned by Muslims are increasingly facing intimidation and pressure from self-styled vigilante groups.One user wrote on X, “They are only threatening him because he is a Muslim and he’s serving/selling chicken biryani. This is an attempt to shut down a business and a Muslim man’s way of earning a living, nothing else.”While demanding action against the group, the other user wrote, “Why does the legal system allow these criminals free rein to openly commit acts of violence and intimidation in the name of religion? Are they above the law?”At the time of reporting, no official statement had been issued by the Uttar Pradesh Police, and there was no information on whether an inquiry had been initiated.