On 12 December, a young Hindu man named Tushar Sharma was stabbed to death by Hashim due to an old rivalry in Khatima, Uttarakhand. This shocking murder left the entire area tense. Angry locals took to the streets, causing widespread chaos. The police imposed Section 163 of the Criminal Procedure Code to control the situation by Sunday, 14 December.
BREAKING: Violence, lath-charge, in Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, after Muslim youths stabbed Tushar Sharma (24) to death.
Friday night clash at bus station tea shop escalated from old rivalry into fatal stabbing; Tushar died on the spot.
Following murder, Hindu… pic.twitter.com/7BB4nQixSl— Treeni (@TheTreeni) December 13, 2025
Videos of the police encounter with Hashim have gone viral on social media. Some locals say Tushar was killed because he was Hindu, with the attacker saying, “He’s a Hindu. Stab him.”
Family claims the accused announced that Tushar needed to be stabbed because he was a Hindu:
"Ye Hindu Hai.. Isko Maro Chaku…!" https://t.co/wxGpXxdnaF pic.twitter.com/W4nEgeh07B— Treeni (@TheTreeni) December 13, 2025
The fight turns deadly near the bus stand
The stabbing took place around 9:30 pm on Friday, 14th December, near the roadways bus station in Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar district. 24-year-old Tushar Sharma, who lived behind Ashram Vidyalaya, was standing at a tea stall with his friends Salman and Abhay.
Tushar got into an argument with Hashim and five guys from Gotiya Islamnagar. Things heated up fast into a fight. Hashim and his group stabbed Tushar. Salman and Abhay got seriously injured, too. All three went to the district hospital. Doctors declared Tushar dead. The other two injured were transferred to a higher centre for better treatment. Police say the two groups had a long-running rivalry.
Tushar got married two years ago
Tushar worked for a transport company and got married just two years ago. His dad, Manoj Sharma, sharpens knives and scissors for a living. The family is heartbroken and shocked after losing him.
Tushar’s wife said he was stabbed with his hands tied behind his back. She mentioned her 60-year-old father-in-law is the only one at home to earn. She wants compensation and a job from the government. She also called for justice, saying the accused should get the death penalty.
Locals protest Tushar’s murder
Tushar’s death made locals furious. On 15th December, crowds marched demanding Hashim’s arrest. Shopkeepers shut their businesses in protest. Heavy Police force was deployed as tension built up.
Hundreds joined the protest, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists. They burned a tea stall near the spot, owned by Hashim’s father. They also smashed some nearby shops, and even the Protesters surrounded Khatima police station, pushing for the arrests.
The Shops were closed on Sitarganj Road, Tanakpur Road, Melaghat Road, and Pilibhit Road to support the protest. Crowds tried blocking the main intersection and roadways, but police calmed them down with promises to catch the accused soon.
Section 163 was imposed after the Clashes
The protesters and police got into heated arguments. Police used lathi charge to disperse the crowd near the Jama Masjid. An additional police force was called, and Section 163 was imposed in a 200-meter area around the main square, especially in the sensitive areas.
Police catch Hashim in the shootout
In a statement, police confirmed that Hashim is the main accused. They received tip-off that he was trying to run from Khatima. When police tried to apprehend him, Hashim fired at the police. As the police personnel opened fire in retaliation, Hashim sustained a bullet injury in the leg. He was rushed to a local hospital.
Khatima SSP Manikant Mishra said they’ve identified two more suspects in Tushar’s murder and are working to nab them. He appealed to the people to maintain peace and decorum in the area.
Bulldozer action by the administration
On Saturday, 13th December, Khatima officials used a bulldozer to tear down the tea shop owned by Hashim’s father. It was on Public Works Department land near the incident.
During this action, heavy police force with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Tehsildar, Additional Superintendent of Police, and CO were present. The Sub-Divisional Magistrate stated that people often complained about the gathering of crowds at that spot, so they demolished the encroachment.