Varanasi: Following the circulation of a viral video showing a youth consuming beer while bathing in the Ganga in Varanasi, the Dashashwamedh police have registered an FIR against an unidentified individual. The incident, which sparked widespread outrage, prompted legal action on Friday.
Details of the FIR
The FIR was lodged based on a complaint filed by advocate Shashank Tripathi, invoking sections 196 (promoting enmity or engaging in acts that disturb harmony) and 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The purported video depicts the man drinking beer while immersed in the holy river.
Eyewitness Account
According to eyewitnesses, the man arrived at the river around 5 am accompanied by his friends. Holding a beer can, he entered the Ganga and began drinking. The video captures people nearby expressing anger, accusing him of desecrating the sacred river.
Social Media Reaction
The video quickly went viral on social media platforms, with many users labeling the act as a serious offense against religious sentiments and demanding strict action. ACP Dashashwamedh Atul Anjan Tripathi confirmed that police teams have been formed to identify and apprehend the suspect.
Previous Incident
This incident occurs two months after 14 youths were jailed for allegedly organizing an iftar party on a boat in the Ganga and discarding non-vegetarian biryani waste into the river. All accused were recently granted bail by the Allahabad High Court.
