Five people were arrested after a video allegedly showing them cooking chicken and consuming beer on a boat in the middle of the Ganga river went viral on social media, police said. Dasasvamedh Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Atul Anjan Tripathi stated that following an investigation, the individuals were identified and sent to jail, and the boat used in the incident was seized.
Authorities identified the arrested individuals as Deepak Kumar, Ajay Sahni, Arun Kumar Sahni, Anurag Nishad, and Rahul Sahni, all aged between 25 and 32.
The video, which surfaced a few days ago, triggered widespread outrage both online and among local residents. Many social media users claimed the act hurt religious sentiments, given the sanctity associated with Varanasi and the Ganga river. Several locals also expressed strong objections, calling the behaviour completely unacceptable.
The incident comes on the heels of a Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) decision two weeks ago to relocate all meat, fish, and poultry shops outside city limits before the commencement of the holy month of Sawan-a move that has drawn mixed reactions from residents, traders, and political leaders.
VMC Public Relations Officer Sandeep Srivastava said on Wednesday that there are around 350 to 400 meat, fish, and poultry shops operating within the city, all of which will be shifted to designated locations on the outskirts before Sawan begins.
Five sites have been identified for this purpose: Ramnagar, Sujabad, Ganeshpur, Awaleshpur, and Shivpur.Srivastava noted that meat traders suffer significant financial losses every year during Sawan because shops within the city are usually forced to shut down.
Relocating them outside municipal limits will allow these businesses to continue operations and minimize disruptions to their livelihoods. Nevertheless, the decision continues to generate both support and criticism among local residents.
(With inputs from PTI)
