Etah: Six youths were arrested and made to publicly apologise after a video emerged showing young men snatching the cap of an elderly man during a procession in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district.
The incident took place in Marhara on August 30 during a procession organised to mark the birth anniversary of Rani Avantibai Lodhi. Thousands of people attended the procession, and several public representatives were present.
A video from the event showed the elderly man standing amid the crowd when a young man approached him, pulled the cap off his head without warning and threw it away. The elderly man turned around in surprise as the procession continued moving through the street.
The video spread quickly on social media and drew criticism from users who called for action against those responsible. Police took suo motu cognisance of the incident and registered a First Information Report.
Using the video footage, police identified six youths and placed them under arrest. Cases were registered against them under provisions relating to rioting, promoting enmity between groups and disturbing communal harmony.
The six accused were then made to issue a public apology. Police action followed as the video continued to circulate online and the incident drew attention across the region.
The episode raised concerns about targeted acts of disrespect against members of the Muslim community, particularly the elderly. The swift police response, including arrests and a formal apology, was widely noted in the area.
For many Muslims and civil society observers, the incident underlines the need for vigilance and prompt law enforcement action when acts of communal disrespect occur in public spaces.
