Surat: Vansda police registered an FIR against three persons for allegedly tying empty bottles resembling Indian-made foreign liquor bottles to a Dahi Handi arrangement during a Janmashtami procession in Unai village of Vansda taluka, with the act allegedly intended to hurt religious sentiments. Police arrested all three accused after a video went viral.The case was registered at Vansda police station on Sep 6 for public nuisance, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings and uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings against one Dharmesh Khatri, his son Harsh Khatri, and Ashish Patel.According to the complaint, two Dahi Handi processions were organised in Unai on Sep 5 as part of the traditional Janmashtami celebrations. Around 140 Dahi Handis were reportedly put up in the area, with the processions passing through the village, main market and adjoining areas before concluding at the Unai Mataji temple at around 9pm.Police said videos and photos of the procession subsequently circulated on social media. During verification of the photographs, officials allegedly noticed several old, empty plastic bottles resembling bottles of Magic Moment Jamun Flavour vodka tied along with the Dahi Handi arrangement at a pillar in Unai’s main market.Apart from liquor bottles, balloons, wafer packets, bananas and flower garlands were also tied to the rope along with the Dahi Handi. Another photograph allegedly showed two men tying the empty bottles to the rope. During their inquiry, police found that the bottles had been tied before the procession began. The complaint alleges that the three accused acted in connivance and that the empty liquor bottles were deliberately included in the Dahi Handi display.The FIR was registered based on a complaint by a police constable attached to Vansda police station and the Unai outpost. Further investigation has been assigned to a police officer of the rank of assistant sub-inspector.
