‘Insult to Hindu faith’: Netizens call for ‘ban’ on Orry for ‘consuming alcohol’ near Vaishno Devi

Reports of Bollywood BFF Orhan ‘Orry’ Awatramani consuming alcohol during the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Katra in Jammu and Kashmir have sparked social media outrage, with netizens calling for a ban on the influencer from the city.

Orry was among eight people booked for allegedly drinking at a hotel in Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district.

“Ban him from KATRA,” a user demanded.

“HOLY SHRINE AREN'T PARTY ZONES!” an angry netizen said, adding, “Bollywood's Orry &friends drinking alcohol and asking for an egg at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, where even onion & garlic aren't allowed!”

“Is an insult to Hindu faith!” the user said while demanding action against Orry and the hotels serving alcohol in the area.

“They are sent to disrupt, desecrate, insult & publish so it can spread & misguide others to do the same elsewhere. For them, this is cool,” claimed another user.

However, another user exclaimed that the FIR was just a “negative effect of fame”.

“Unnecessary pressure to act ethically and morally right every time. Nobody would care if it was someone else, but since it's Orry - it's news. Same happened with Aryan Khan, and Ranveer Allahabadia,” he added.

BJP leaders in Jammu react:

Talking to news agency IANS, BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia condemned the incident and said Orry and group “violated the law” of the sacred place.

“This is condemnable, and the more we condemn this incident, the less it is. They have violated the law, and in a sacred place like Katra, which is officially declared a holy town, consuming alcohol is unacceptable…,” he said.

While BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa termed the actions of the group as “absolutely wrong” and said, “I believe strict action should be taken... It's a disrespect to people's sentiments. If Katra police have filed an FIR against them, they should make sure that they do not leave Katra until they are punished.”

What did Orry do? Why was he booked?

The FIR was registered against the eight for “violating the law of the land”, and a team was set up to nab them for “hurting the sentiments of people”, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a statement.

On March 15, the Katra Police Station received a complaint that some hotel guests were found consuming alcohol on the premises in violation of rules. An FIR was then registered against the eight.

“Orhan Awatramani, Darshan Singh, Parth Raina, Ritick Singh, Rashi Dutta, Rakshita Bhogal, Shagun Kohli and Anastasila Arzamaskina consumed liquor on the hotel premises despite being told that alcohol and non-vegetarian food were not allowed inside the property due to its proximity to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine,” a police officer said, citing the complaint.

“Sensing the gravity of the matter, instructions were issued by Senior Superintendent of Police, Reasi, Paramvir Singh to nab the miscreants and set an example of zero tolerance of any such act at a religious place which can hurt the sentiments of people,” he said.

(With agency inputs)