Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi have arrested 14 Muslim men for allegedly hurting Hindu religious sentiments by holding an iftar gathering on a boat on the Ganga river, local media reported.
The arrests followed the circulation of a video on social media showing the group consuming chicken biryani during the gathering on Monday.
A complaint was filed by Rajat Jaiswal, a local office-bearer of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing, who alleged that the incident had offended Hindu sentiments.
In the complaint, Jaiswal also alleged that meat leftovers were thrown into the Ganga, a river considered sacred by Hindus, according to media reports.
Police registered a case under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to defiling a place of worship with intent to insult religion, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and promoting enmity between groups.
Additional charges include public nuisance and using evidence known to be false, reports said. Authorities also invoked provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
Police did not immediately issue a detailed public statement on the matter.