Against the backdrop of tensions between India and Pakistan, BJP members allegedly vandalised one of the branches of Karachi Bakery in Hyderabad, demanding that the owners change its name, Telangana police said. According to the police, the incident took place during a protest at 3 pm on Saturday.
It was the branch of Karachi Bakery at Shamshabad which faced the protests.
“No employees at the bakery were harmed. No serious damage was done,” K Balaraju, inspector, RGI Airport Police Station, told . “We were on the spot within a few minutes of the incident and could disperse the members of the political outfit.”
This is not the first time that Karachi Bakery has seen protests. At the height of the conflict last week, protesters were seen planting tricolour flags at the Banjara Hills Branch of the bakery.
While Karachi Bakery gets its name from Karachi in Pakistan, it is run by an Indian family, descendants of those who migrated to during the Partition. The bakery was founded in 1953 at Mozamjahi Market in Hyderabad.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a manager of the bakery said, “We are an Indian establishment. We cannot be branded Pakistani.”
Karachi Bakery has branches in several cities, including , and . In Hyderabad alone, the bakery has 24 branches. The most famous of its bakes are the fruit and Osmania biscuits.
Earlier, the bakery owners, Rajesh and Harish Ramnani, had issued a statement requesting Chief Minister A to offer them protection. In 2019, during the Pulwama attack too, the bakery was vandalised, police say.
Following Saturday’s attack, RGI Airport Police booked the protesters under sections 126 (2) and 324 (4) of BNS – wrongful restraint and causing damage to property. “The board of the bakery was damaged by the protesters,” Balaraju said. No arrests have been made.
