Varanasi: Five men were arrested and a boat was seized after a video allegedly showing them cooking chicken and consuming beer on a boat in the middle of the Ganga river in Varanasi went viral on social media, police said.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Atul Anjan Tripathi, police launched an investigation after the video sparked outrage among local residents and social media users. The accused, as reported by NDTV, were identified as Deepak Kumar, Ajay Sahni, Arun Kumar Sahni, Anurag Nishad and Rahul Sahni, all aged between 25 and 32. They were subsequently arrested and sent to jail, while the boat used in the incident was confiscated.
Authorities said the video triggered strong reactions because of the religious significance of the Ganga and the cultural importance of Varanasi. Many residents described the act as unacceptable and claimed it hurt religious sentiments associated with the sacred river.
Police investigations found that the gathering took place on a boat anchored near Manmandir Ghat. A case was registered against the accused for allegedly disturbing social harmony and hurting religious sentiments. Reports indicated that all five men were associated with the local boatmen community.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of activities on the Ganga in Varanasi. Earlier this year, 14 people were arrested following a separate controversy involving an iftar gathering and the alleged disposal of chicken biryani waste into the river from a boat.
The latest controversy also coincides with a recent decision by the Varanasi Municipal Corporation to relocate meat, fish and poultry shops outside city limits ahead of the holy month of Sawan.
Police said further legal proceedings in the case are underway.
