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Karachi Bakery Vandalised in Hyderabad as Protesters Demand Name Change Amid Heightened India-Pakistan Tensions
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Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, a group of protestors allegedly affiliated with right-wing organisations vandalised a branch of Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad on Saturday afternoon, demanding that the owners change the bakery’s name. The incident occurred at around 3 pm at the bakery’s Shamshabad outlet, according to Telangana police.
Inspector K Balaraju of the RGI Airport Police Station told The Indian Express, “No employees at the bakery were harmed. No serious damage was done. We were on the spot within a few minutes of the incident and could disperse the members of the political outfit.”
Karachi Bakery, a popular chain known for its signature biscuits and baked goods, has previously been the target of protests. Just last week, during a surge in hostilities along the India-Pakistan border, demonstrators planted tricolour flags at the Banjara Hills branch of the bakery in a symbolic display of nationalism.
Despite the name, Karachi Bakery is an Indian establishment, run by descendants of a family who migrated from Karachi to Hyderabad during the Partition. Founded in 1953 at Mozamjahi Market, the bakery has since expanded to include 24 branches in Hyderabad and several others in cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. In a statement to The Indian Express, a manager at the bakery said, “We are an Indian establishment. We cannot be branded Pakistani.”
The owners of Karachi Bakery, Rajesh and Harish Ramnani, have previously appealed for protection from the Telangana state government. Following the latest incident, they have once again urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to ensure their safety. The Shamshabad outlet suffered minor damage to its signboard, police confirmed.
This is not the first time the bakery has faced such backlash. In 2019, during the aftermath of the Pulwama terror attack, one of its outlets was also vandalised, according to police.
The RGI Airport Police have booked the protesters under Sections 126(2) and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to wrongful restraint and damage to property. However, as of now, no arrests have been made.
