Devbhoomi, the sacred land of Uttarakhand, has once again been rocked by an incident of “spit jihad,” sparking outrage among Hindu organisations and local residents. A video showing a restaurant chef deliberately spitting on rotis before baking them in a tandoor at Zaika Restaurant near the Bazaar police station went viral, igniting widespread anger.
The young man in the video, identified as Adnan, was apprehended by members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, who handed him over to police and demanded strict legal action. The incident created immediate tension in the area, with shops owned by members of the Muslim community closing temporarily out of fear.
The Uttarkashi police took swift action, taking the accused into custody and filing a case against both him and the restaurant owner. SP Sarita Doval confirmed that legal proceedings are underway and announced that verification of outsiders residing in the area will also be conducted. In addition, authorities have recommended canceling the food license of Zaika Restaurant, signaling a strong stance against the act.
Hindu organisations have condemned the incident as “spit jihad,” calling for the expulsion of such elements not only from Uttarkashi but across Uttarakhand. They highlighted that this is not an isolated occurrence; similar incidents, including spitting on rotis during a fair in Bageshwar and spitting in tea in Mussoorie, have been reported previously. The Dhami government had responded to past incidents by enforcing stricter food safety rules, but incidents continue to raise concerns about hygiene and respect for cultural sentiments.
The incident has sparked debates on social media and within local communities, with calls for stricter vigilance and zero tolerance for acts that disrespect sacred traditions and public health.
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