A Muslim shoe shopkeeper was detained in western Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr after he was accused of selling shoes with ‘Thakur’, a higher caste surname stamped on the sole of a shoe.

An FIR under the sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was filed against him by Vishal Chauhan, a leader of the right-wing outfit in Bulandshahr.
He saw the shoe with ‘Thakur’ written on the sole when he went to a shop on GT Road, Bulandshahr, to buy a pair of shoes.
On objecting, the shopkeeper got into a fight with him on the basis of which the complaint was lodged.
It is not yet known which company manufactures those shoes.
The accused was released late on Tuesday night. A police investigation is underway.