Varanasi: 5 arrested as chicken, beer party on boat in river Ganga sparks outrage

Five people have been arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi after police took action over a purported video showing a group allegedly cooking chicken and consuming alcohol aboard a boat in the River Ganges. The video, which circulated widely on social media, triggered outrage and prompted authorities to register a case and seize the vessel.

The incident came to light amid an ongoing debate around activities considered inappropriate on the sacred river and at a time when local civic discussions have included restrictions on meat and fish sales within parts of Varanasi.

According to police, the alleged gathering took place on a boat near Dashashwamedh Ghat.

The viral clip, which runs for over a minute, appears to show several men seated on the boat at night, with food being prepared in cooking vessels while drinks are consumed onboard.

Police said the individuals seen in the footage were identified and detained after the video surfaced online.

The accused have been identified as Deepak Kumar, Ajay Sahani, Arun Kumar Sahani, Anurag Nishad and Rahul Sahani, all residents linked to the Ramnagar area of Varanasi.

A case was registered at Dashashwamedh police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and the boat seen in the video has also been seized.

Speaking on the matter, ACP Dashashwamedh Atul Anjan Tripathi said the police acted immediately after the clip gained attention online.

“The video was taken by the police as soon as it went viral and the people who are seen in it were identified and all of them were arrested. The video was also uploaded on social media. It looks like an old video. It looks like a video wherein people are seen wearing warm clothes during winter time”.

“Along with this, the boat that is seen and the incident that took place has also been seized and further proceedings are being carried out against all the objects.”

Responding to questions about ownership of the boat and monitoring of such activities, the ACP added, “In the past few months, the police and the search party have also been formed. And there has been a decrease in these incidents as well. This video is old. We are constantly keeping an eye on the situation.

The officer urged both local boat operators and visitors from outside to avoid engaging in activities that could hurt public sentiments, warning that violations would invite legal action.

Police indicated that while claims circulated online linking the boat to a local BJP functionary, ownership and related aspects remain part of the inquiry.

Officials said the person in question was not visible in the video.

SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN RECENT MONTHS

The latest case follows similar controversies in recent months. In March, police arrested 14 Muslim youngsters after a purported video showed an iftar gathering aboard a boat in the Ganga during Ramzan in Varanasi, leading to allegations that religious sentiments had been hurt.

In May, another case involved a viral video allegedly showing a man consuming beer while bathing in the Ganga, after which police initiated legal action.

With another social media-triggered case now under investigation, authorities in Varanasi have reiterated that activities on the river that are seen as violating public order or hurting religious sentiments will invite legal action.

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Inputs by Roushan Kumar