Icon of communal harmony refuses ₹2L reward

DEEPAK Kumar, a 42-year-old gym owner who emerged as a national symbol of communal unity after shielding a Muslim shopkeeper from a mob in Uttarakhand’s Kotdwar, has declined a cash prize of %2 lakh announced by Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari through social media.

- NARENDRA SETHI @ Dehradun

Deepak, now widely known by the moniker ‘Mohammad Deepak’, requested that the funds be redirected to those in greater distress. “I got to know about the reward through social media. 2 lakh is a huge amount, but if the minister gives this amount to a disabled person or any other needy person, it will be really commendable,” he said, distancing himself from financial gains.