In Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, a truck driver, Bachal Khan (37), found himself under arrest for allegedly offering ‘namaz’ (prayers) on the side of a busy road without the requisite permission, as confirmed by local police on Sunday.
The incident came to light after a video circulated on social media, capturing Khan in the act of offering prayers in front of his parked truck on the side of a bustling crossroad near Palanpur city. Authorities from Palanpur (west) police station took notice of the viral video and subsequently registered a case against Khan.
The accused had halted his truck at a busy crossroad on a highway to perform ‘namaz’ on Friday. The video, shot by an onlooker, gained traction on social media, prompting swift police action.
An FIR was filed against Bachal Khan under sections 283 (danger in public way), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharging duties), and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), according to an official statement. The arrest raises questions about the regulations regarding public activities and religious practices in public spaces.
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