Shillong, September 20: A shocking video from Leicester city in the UK captured a police officer’s rude behavior towards an elderly Hindu priest and other community members gathered to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.
As per IANS, the video, lasting over a minute, was shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Insight UK, a Hindu advocacy group. They alleged that the priest had been “pushed around” and “manhandled” during the incident.
The officer in question was identified as Adam Ahmed from Leicester Police. Insight UK accused him of using “excessive force against peaceful Hindu devotees.”
In a post alongside the video, Insight UK stated, “Last night (September 19), Officer Adam Ahmed of Leicestershire Police used what we believe is excessive force against peaceful Hindu devotees celebrating #GaneshChaturthi. Hindu priest manhandled by Officer Adam Ahmed of @leicspolice.”
The group strongly condemned the officer’s actions, deeming them unwarranted.
In the video, the police officer can be heard telling the priest, “I just need to talk to you,” while a Hindu devotee, referring to the priest as “Shastri ji,” rebukes the officer, saying, “shame, shame on you. Do not touch our priest. Stand back… He is an old man.”
Additional videos of the incident later emerged, with a woman repeatedly urging the officer not to touch their priest.
As of now, there has been no official statement from Leicester Police or the administration regarding the incident. It occurred exactly a year after Hindu-Muslim clashes in the city following an India-Pakistan cricket match, resulting in the arrest of 47 individuals during a series of disturbances, according to the police.