Police in Varanasi arrested a youth from Bihar after a video of him drinking beer in the Ganga River went viral [1, 2].
The incident has sparked a debate over the boundaries between personal conduct and the legal protections afforded to sites of deep religious significance. Because the Ganga is revered as a goddess in Hinduism, acts perceived as desecration can lead to severe legal consequences and public outcry.
Authorities took action after the footage surfaced online in mid-May 2024 [1, 2]. Reports on the exact setting of the video differ; one account states the youth was drinking beer while bathing in the river, while another reports he was on a boat traveling between Varanasi and Mirzapur [1, 2].
The legal process moved quickly following the video's spread. The youth was arrested on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 [2], and subsequently booked on Friday, May 22, 2024 [1].
Police officials said the arrest was necessary to maintain the sanctity of the waterway. "We have booked the youth for violating the sanctity of the Ganga," ACP Atul Anjan Tripathi said [1].
Local law enforcement noted that the act violated specific regional statutes. An unnamed senior police officer said, "Drinking alcohol in the holy river is a punishable offence under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition Act" [2].
The case highlights the strict enforcement of laws regarding the pollution and desecration of holy sites in Uttar Pradesh. The police maintain that the act was not merely a personal choice but a violation of public order, and religious sentiment [1, 2].
“"We have booked the youth for violating the sanctity of the Ganga."”
This incident underscores the intersection of religious sentiment and legal enforcement in India. By invoking the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition Act, authorities are treating the consumption of alcohol in a sacred space not just as a social taboo, but as a criminal offense against the state's cultural and religious heritage.
