Flood relief effort turns political as Muslim pradhan arrested in UP over biryani distribution

A flood relief effort initiated by a Muslim village pradhan in Farrukhabad district was also viewed through the lens of religion, as he along with his associates were arrested for distributing biryani on Janmashtami day, though police clarified that both vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties were served and no family was forced to accept food while several villagers have come forward in his support.

The incident occurred on Sunday in Raipur Chinghatpur area, where large parts of the district have been inundated by severe flooding for a week, leaving dozens of families stranded and dependent on community relief initiatives, and the pradhan Mohammad Shami reportedly organised food distribution to nearly 300 families near a temple that had been turned into a relief shelter, according to Maktoob media.

The distribution, which included cooked meals and dry rations, coincided with the Janmashtami festival, and soon after some individuals alleged that Shami had disrespected religious sentiment by conducting the drive on what they termed a sacred observance day when non-vegetarian food is considered prohibited, and a formal complaint was lodged against him, his sons, and one of his party workers.

Kampil police registered a case under sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita relating to promoting enmity, intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace, and criminal intimidation, and they took the accused into custody while stating that an inquiry was being carried out to verify facts on the ground and that further action would follow evidence rather than allegations.

The floodwaters in Farrukhabad have displaced hundreds of people, with many still living in temporary shelters and depending on relief efforts, and although the district administration has deployed official teams, villagers claim that aid has been slow to reach remote pockets, compelling community leaders and volunteers to intervene.

Family members of the pradhan insisted that the initiative was purely humanitarian and aimed at preventing hunger during the disaster, and they argued that the charges were politically motivated attempts to tarnish his image, while also contending that even people not named in the complaint had been detained.

Several residents of the affected villages expressed their support for Shami, asserting that he had been consistently engaged in relief work and that the allegations had been deliberately framed to malign him, and they maintained that relief during emergencies should not be complicated by religious sensitivities or communal considerations