The Uttar Pradesh police on Tuesday arrested a youth in Varanasi after he was seen drinking beer and dancing to loud DJ music onboard a boat passing through the Ganga River in Varanasi.
The youth was identified as Arjun Rajbhar, 25, hailing from Nagwa, who is a boat decorator by profession. A video demonstrating him consuming beer and dancing to loud DJ music made rounds on the internet.
Following this, a police team working under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Kashi Zone Police Gaurav Banswal and ACP Bhelupur Gaurav Kumar probed the viral video and identified the youth.
During interrogation, it was revealed that he had been participating in an annual religious procession organized by the Manjhi (boatmen) community. The procession travels from Sheetla Ghat in Varanasi to the Sheetla Mata Temple in Adalhat, Mirzapur, and draws participation from boatmen across multiple districts.
“They boarded boats equipped with DJ systems and departed from Sheetla Ghat for Adalhat on Sunday evening at 5:30 pm, returning to Varanasi by late Monday evening.” Assistant commissioner of police, Dashashwamedh Zone, Atul Anjan Tripathi, said.
The accused was later arrested under Sections 352 (intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of peace) and 351(2) (criminal intimidation) of the BNS.
Outrage Following the Video
The video of the incident created significant outrage on the internet, with AAP questioning the government: “The question is: Has the Uttar Pradesh government and the Varanasi administration officially granted permission for such liquor parties on the Ganga River?” the AAP’s social media account posted.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi drew the incident parallel with the incident of the Muslim youth who were arrested for eating chicken biryani and allegedly discarding the waste in the River Ganga in the month of Ramadan.
“This consumption of alcohol is allowed? Doesn’t it hurt—feelings? And it doesn’t disrupt social harmony? It doesn’t cause a public nuisance? It doesn’t violate the Water Act? And the ruling party will not give a complaint either? 14 Muslim boys are still incarcerated in jail,” he posted on X.
The fourteen men were denied bail and booked on several charges, including extortion. The FIR was lodged on the complaint of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Rajat Jaiswal, alleging the incident had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu.
