Police booked at least two dozen Muslims for allegedly serving non-vegetarian biryani to Hindus at a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh’s Mahoba district, The Indian Express reported.
When It Happened
The alleged incident took place on August 31 during an ‘urs’ (annual religious congregation) of Sheikh Peer Baba in Salat village in the Charkhari police station limits.
What has Happened
Station House Officer (SHO) of Charkhari Police Station Anoop Kumar Pandey said a “biryani feast” was promised by the main accused Ansari had if his nephew recovered from an illness.
Apart from ” vegetarian food ” such as puri-sabzi served at one stall, “non-vegetarian biryani” was served at another to the faithful devotees of both the religions who came from 13 villages in large numbers.
Later rumors spread that buffalo meat mixed with rice and tricked the Hindus into having it.
Intervention: BJP MLA, Police & Panchayat
After the intervention of local BJP MLA Brijbhushan Rajpoot, an FIR under various sections of the IPC was registered on Wednesday.
Police reached the place and brought the situation under control.
On September 2, the issue was settled after a panchayat was called and the main accused confessed his mistake.
He apologised and offered to pay Rs 50,000 to purify themselves.
Even, the people from both the sides had written to the police that it was a non-issue.
However, on 3 September, the BJP MLA had intervened again saying that the biryani was deliberately served to hurt the Hindu sentiments , following which the police filed an FIR.
Conflicting Information
There was conflicting information regarding the incident.
Rajkumar Raikwar, one of the complainants said only main accused Pappu Ansari was guilty while all the 22 others named in the FIR were innocent.
Raikwar alleged that the other names were added on the direction of Rajpoot’s insistence who “made us sign the complaint without us knowing what was it for”, he claimed.
Speaking to The Indian Express, apolice officer said that the complainant was willing to give an affidavit to withdraw the case but the MLA urged him to lodge the complaint.