An Iftar party on the Ganga River has sparked a row in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. According to the police, 14 men were arrested on allegations of eating chicken biryani and discarding its remains in the river.. As per Jaiswal, the men discarded chicken biryani and chicken bones into the river during their iftar. His complaint adds that the act was done “deliberately” to hurt Hindu sentiments. (AP/Representational). A viral video on X showed 14 men marking their iftar on boats on the Ganges River. The men were arrested on a complaint from Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Varanasi city unit president, Rajat Jaiswal, who accused them of discarding the remnants of chicken biryani in the river.. “A video went viral on Monday, purportedly showing a group of people holding an Iftar party on a boat on the Ganga and consuming biryani during the gathering,” Vijay Pratap Singh, additional commissioner of police (ACP), said on Tuesday.. As reported by HT earlier, a case has been registered under sections 298 (defiling a place of worship), 299 (malicious act with intent to outrage religious feelings), 196(1)(B) (promoting enmity), 270 (public nuisance), 279 (fouling water of a public spring or water reservoir), and 223(B) (disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).. What are the allegations?. As per Jaiswal, the men discarded chicken biryani and chicken bones into the river during their iftar. His complaint adds that the act was done “deliberately” to hurt Hindu sentiments.. “The Ganga holds deep and unshakeable faith for followers of Sanatan Dharma. Thousands of devotees from across the country and the world visit Kashi every day to perform rituals and offer prayers using Ganga water,” said Jaiswal.. “This act has hurt religious sentiments,” he added.. While the viral video shows the men eating the meal aboard a boat on the Ganga river, the video does not show them discarding bones and leftovers into the river.. The police has also said that the allegations against the men are being investigated.. Meanwhile, another video has been going viral on social media which shows another group of men holding iftar aboard a boat on the Ganga. However, this appears to be a different video and not related to the arrest of the 14 other men.. Gyanvapi Mosque managing committee condemns act. Amid the row, SM Yaseen, joint secretary of the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee has criticised the youths.. “It came to light that certain ignorant individuals were hosting a roza iftar on a boat. Iftar is a purely religious observance; it is neither a social outing nor a picnic. It is mandatory to offer the Maghrib prayers immediately after Iftar. Therefore, hosting roza iftar on board a boat is against the religion. There is no place for such an act.”. The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee (AIMC) is the Muslim management body responsible for overseeing the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi. 

 Sikh student died after being assaulted during a clash between two groups of youths in Canada on March 14.. File photo of Gurkirat Manocha. (LinkedIn). Gurkirat Manocha, 26, hailed from Ujjain and was pursuing a business management post-degree diploma programme at Northern Lights College in Canada’s British Columbia. Track updates on Iran US war. Gurkirat had gone to Canada approximately 15 months ago for higher studies. The family resides at Parshvanath Colony in Ujjain.. On March 14, after a dispute between college students, he was attacked near Charlie Lake, resulting in his death, his family said.. Also read: Badrinath Kedarnath temple committee says Sara Ali Khan must submit proof of faith as Sanatani to visit | Explainer. Gurkirat’s father Gurjeet Singh stated that the entire matter is being investigated by the Canadian police, and only after the investigation is complete will the cause of the incident and other details become clear.. The family members said that with the help of the government, they want to bring Gurkirat’s body here and perform his last rites.. Also read: Khamenei to Larijani: All faces Israel says it eliminated and Iran now seeks revenge for. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday met the family members of the deceased and assured that the state government would bear the expenses of bringing his body home. “The state government will bear the cost of bringing Gurkirat’s body and performing his last rites,” the statement quoted Yadav as saying. 

 The US department of homeland security has announced free flights and an exit bonus of USD 2,600 for illegal immigrants, including those from India, to return to their home countries. In a social media post promoting the move, the department used images of the Taj Mahal along with prominent landmarks from Colombia and China.. In a social media post promoting the move, the department used images of the Taj Mahal. (X/@DHSgov). The initiative, named Project Homecoming, began in May last year after the start of US President Donald Trump’s second term.. ALSO READ | Fact check: Was Jacob Elordi deported to Australia amid US visa issues? Debunking viral rumor. ‘Go home with a fresh start’. To promote its self-deportation plan aimed at illegal immigrants in the US, the department shared visuals featuring the Taj Mahal and major landmarks from Colombia and China.. “You can go home with a fresh start! Receive a FREE flight home and a USD 2,600 exit bonus when you use CBP Home to self-deport,” DHS said in a post on X.. The department has asked migrants to use the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app to start the process. Through the app, they can register their intention to leave, provide their details, and get information about travel help and the financial support available under the scheme.. According to DHS, more than 2.2 million illegal immigrants have used the programme since it started in January 2025.. The cost of deportation. The cost of forcibly deporting one person currently stands at USD 18,245.. DHS said that offering a USD 2,600 payment reduces the cost of one voluntary departure through the CBP Home app to about USD 5,100, saving more than USD 13,000 per person for taxpayers.. The programme allows migrants to “return home as regular travellers without arrest, detention, or restraints. It’s a safe, orderly alternative that provides assistance and flexibility, not fear”, according to the website.. When the scheme was introduced in May last year, DHS offered a USD 1,000 exit payment. This was raised to USD 3,000 during December if migrants chose to leave before the new year.. The payment was later set at USD 2,600 in January this year.. Netizens react to DHS’ post. Social media users responded with sarcasm and memes to the department’s post on X. Some also criticised the use of public money for the scheme.. One user wrote, “Can US citizens get $2,600 instead?”, while another said, “What amazing use of taxpayer dollars”.. “Can you send me some cash for being a legal, employed, natural-born citizen who contributes to society?” a third user asked. Another wrote, “This is what happens when u let internet trolls run federal agencies.”. With inputs from agencies 

 The government announced new guidelines for airlines on Wednesday to improve passenger experience, stating that passengers with the same PNR on their tickets will be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats. (This is a representative image). In a significant relief for passengers, the government has also instructed all airlines to make at least 60 percent of seats on every flight available for booking without additional charges, ensuring equitable access. The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated in a press release that facilitating passengers remains its top priority. It highlighted that India has become the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, with air travel growing more accessible to people. ALSO READ | DGCA allows Air India to extend pilots’ duty time amid West Asia crisis. In keeping with its commitment to passenger facilitation, “the Ministry has launched several passenger-focused initiatives to improve travel convenience, such as UDAN Yatri Cafés for affordable meals, Flybrary for free book access, and complimentary Wi-Fi at airports,” the statement added. Centre’s directives to airlines. Here is a complete list of instructions given to the airlines by the ministry via the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA): 1. No additional fee: At least 60% of seats on every flight must be provided free of charge to guarantee equitable access. 2. Passengers booked on the same PNR and traveling together will be seated together, ideally in adjacent seats. 

 Uttam Nagar in Delhi stays tense before Eid-ul-Fitr, days after a 30-year-old man’s death in community clashes, amid locals’ reports of threats from leaders and religious groups to celebrate ‘Khoon ki Holi’. Tensions in Uttam Nagar arise from the death of a 26-year-old man in a clash between two families from different communities during the Holi festival earlier this month (PTI). As Eid draws near amid issued threats, multiple Muslim families have indicated plans to vacate the area until conditions stabilize, according to a separate HT report. The first clashes erupted on March 4 after an 11-year-old girl threw a water balloon that struck a Muslim woman, sparking an argument. Tarun Kumar, aged 26, died from injuries sustained in the clashes four days later. Police have arrested 14 individuals and detained two minors so far in relation to the case involving the ‘Khoon ki holi’ threat. Jameel Ahmad, 55, owner of Miya Ji restaurant, told HT on Tuesday that his family has resided in Uttam Nagar for over 50 years and now fears paying the price for others’ mistakes. He portrayed the matter as an ongoing feud between two families, noting that certain leaders have threatened to stage ‘khoon ki Holi,’ signaling a bloodbath. “I have three children and seven grandchildren.” Everyone is afraid after hearing leaders threaten to play ‘khoon Ki Holi’.