Police in Varanasi have arrested 14 Muslim youths after a video went viral showing them holding an Iftar gathering on a boat in the Ganga.
According to police, the video showed the youths eating chicken biryani during the Iftar and allegedly throwing leftovers into the river. After the video spread on social media, a complaint was filed by a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
A case was registered at Kotwali police station, and within hours, police teams conducted raids and arrested 14 individuals.
ACP Vijay Pratap Singh said, “A complaint was received, and a case was registered. Two teams were formed, and action was taken quickly. Fourteen people have been arrested so far and further investigation is underway.”
Police said the accused are mostly residents of the Madanpura area and have been booked under charges related to hurting religious sentiments. Officials are also probing whether food waste was deliberately thrown into the river.
Akhilesh Yadav Raises Questions at Iftar Event
Reacting to the arrests, Samajwadi Party chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav questioned the action taken by the administration.
Speaking at an Iftar gathering in Lucknow, he said, “Why can’t Iftar be held on the Ganga? All this is being done to create distance between communities.”
He further criticised the administration, alleging selective action. “The DM, SP and SHO should have also attended Iftar. If the palm is hot, the police becomes soft. Maybe those people did not ‘heat palms’, that is why action was taken,” he said.
Akhilesh also raised questions about alleged double standards. “A five star ship was running on the river with liquor and waste going into the Ganga. What action was taken against its owner?” he asked.
Religious Leaders React
The Iftar event in Lucknow was attended by several political and social figures, including Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali, president of the Islamic Center of India.
Meanwhile, some Muslim clerics criticised the act of holding Iftar on a boat. SM Yasin, associated with a mosque committee in Varanasi, said, “Iftar is a religious act and should be done properly. This is not a picnic. Such actions give others a chance to defame Islam.”
Incident Sparks Debate
The incident has triggered a wider debate on religious practices, public spaces and police action. While authorities maintain that action was taken based on a complaint and evidence, opposition leaders have questioned the intent behind the arrests.
Police said further investigation is ongoing, and more details will emerge as they examine the viral video and other evidence.
