Holi revellers harass Muslim family in UP's Bijnore; four detained after video goes viral

Four persons, including three minors, were detained after a video showing a group of Holi revellers harassing a Muslim man and two women in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnore district went viral on social media on Sunday.

Lucknow: Four persons, including three minors, were detained after a video showing a group of Holi revellers harassing a Muslim man and two women in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnore district, about 400 kilometres from here, went viral on social media on Sunday.

The footage captured a cluster of youths, drenched in water and vibrant hues, halting a motorcyclist accompanied by two women and forcibly smearing colours on him and one of the women.

The youths, who carried buckets filled with water, were seen pouring water over the women and the man. One of the women is seen protesting and appearing to ask them to stop but they did not pay heed to her pleadings.

The Holi revellers were further observed drenching the women with water from a pipe, causing them evident discomfort. Notably, at least one of the celebrants was seen wielding a stick.

The revellers were also heard chanting religious slogans, with one of them asserting to the apprehensive family that applying colors on all passersby was an age-old tradition. Despite the family's acquiescence, the youths continued to spray water at them.

As the video went viral on social media, the police swung into action and revealed that the incident had happened in Dhampur town in the district. The police managed to identify some of the revellers and arrested one person, identified as Aniruddha, and also detained three minors in connection with the incident, sources said.

Binore district police chief Neeraj Jadaun said that a case was lodged against the revellers under different sections of the IPC and the matter was being investigated. He further cautioned that stringent action would be taken against anyone found harassing people under the guise of Holi celebrations.