BY PARTH M.N., DAVID PIERSON
GULAOTHI, India —
Nasir Ali was selling tennis shoes in this small town east of New Delhi when a dozen men surrounded his street stall.
He instantly recognized them as the local goons: members of the Bajrang Dal, a Hindu nationalist group with a long history of violence and a rising profile.
They accused the 28-year-old Ali of insulting their faith, because one of the brands he carried was Thakur, which is also the name of a prominent Hindu caste. A rival shoe seller had tipped them off.
“How can you sell shoes with Thakur written on them when you are a Muslim?” one of the men shouted.