3 arrested for assaulting biryani vendor, making casteist remarks

Three people were arrested on Sunday (December 15) for physically assaulting a food vendor in Greater Noida and hurling casteist insults at him, police said.

A food vendor in Greater Noida was thrashed by three men, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

A purported video of the incident, which took place on a roadside on Friday (December 13), has surfaced on social media in which a vendor selling vegetarian biryani is seen being slapped by the accused men.

“Fold your hands,” one of the accused is heard saying in the short clip, as the vendor is continuously slapped on his face.

Ranvijay Singh, Superintendent of Police, Greater Noida, said that an FIR has been registered against the three accused. “FIR has been registered and we have also spoken to the biryani vendor. An investigation is underway and the accused will be arrested soon,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad asked local members of his Dalit emancipation group to reach out to the biryani vendor and “ensure action”. “Bhim Army’s Noida team should reach the spot immediately and ensure action,” Azad tweeted in Hindi.

However, Azad’s tweet was met with a strong response from Gautam Buddh Nagar police, which warned him against causing any law and order situation. “Arrests will be made soon in this case. Do not vitiate the atmosphere. It’s police’s job to ensure the arresting of those seen beating the vendor in the video. It is also the responsibility of the police to initiate strict action against you in case you try to vitiate the atmosphere,” Vaibhav Krishna, Senior Superintendent of Police tweeted.