A large crowd gathered outside a non-halal Indian restaurant in west London on Thursday evening, blocking its entrance and refusing to disperse for several hours despite a significant police presence, according to the establishment’s owner.
Harman Singh Kapoor, who co-owns Rangrez on Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith with his wife Khushi, posted multiple videos to social media platform X showing what he described as a blockade of more than 100 people, primarily young men of Somali origin, gathered outside the premises. The footage showed heated confrontations, shouting and a considerable number of officers at the scene. No arrests were made and no serious injuries were reported.
Kapoor, a Sikh businessman who has operated the restaurant for approximately 16 years, accused the Metropolitan Police of directing aggression towards him while failing to adequately protect his business and family. He also directed criticism at London Mayor Sadiq Khan over what he described as a lack of action. The Metropolitan Police has not publicly commented on the specific allegations.
The restaurant has been at the centre of a sustained controversy since early 2026, when Kapoor displayed prominent signage stating the business does not sell halal meat — a position he says is rooted in his Sikh faith, which favours jhatka meat preparation. He has argued publicly that his right to display such information should be treated no differently from businesses that advertise halal products.
The backlash that followed has included protests, online abuse, fake reviews and what Kapoor described as vandalism, including an egging incident in early March. He also reported receiving death threats and rape threats directed at his family. In February, Kapoor announced plans to close the restaurant the following month, citing rising costs, harassment and inadequate police support — a decision he subsequently reversed after receiving a wave of public backing.
Following Thursday night’s incident, Kapoor called on what he described as “law-abiding citizens” to attend a support rally at the restaurant from 2pm on Friday, 14 March. He posted defiant messages overnight, including references to Sikh teachings on the use of force when peaceful means have been exhausted, and stated his intention to continue operating. “I’ll keep fighting for the future of our kids. They can’t stop us now,” he wrote.
The episode has attracted significant attention across social media platforms including X, Instagram and YouTube, as well as coverage in Indian media outlets. It has prompted wide-ranging debate around religious freedom, business rights, community relations and policing standards in London. Kapoor continues to post updates directly to his X account as the situation develops.
