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A viral video of Varanasi has caused the arrest of 14 men who are said to have had an iftar event on a boat in the Ganga River, near Panchganga Ghat. The video that went viral about March 16, 2026, allegedly captures the situation when the group of local residents in their 20s is having a break from their Ramadan fast, eating chicken biryani in a common dish and throwing the remains of the food and trash directly in the river.

The member of the BJP Yuva Morcha by the name of Rajat Jaiswal accused them of discrediting the holy Ganga and deliberately injuring the religious feelings of the Hindus, because the river is considered very important when it comes to rituals and devotions. Following the lead of ACP Kotwali Vijay Pratap Singh, 14 people were arrested within 24 hours on March 17. It was filed under the category of offense against religious sentiment, desecrating a place of worship, and common nuisance legislation and, probably, pollution legislation.

The event has occasioned a global fracas on social media referencing religious sensibility, pollution of the river, and how people behave during festivals. Police reported that it was under investigation; no charges or bail have been issued so far.