A 55-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault of an emergency worker after an alleged altercation between a group of Indian-origin men and women and a police officer during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Leicester. The man was taken into custody on Monday evening but has since been released under investigation. The incident came to light through a social media post by a Hindu priest allegedly being pushed around by a police officer during the procession. The police statement revealed that the celebrations were disrupted when an unplanned procession took place after an authorized religious festival celebration had concluded earlier that day.

Leicestershire Police stated that they attempted to engage with the crowd to establish the details of the organizer, as there are legal requirements surrounding processions. However, an incident occurred, leading to the arrest of the 55-year-old man. The police force assured that they continue to engage with the local community and those involved in celebrations to ensure everyone's safety. This incident has sparked anger among British Hindus, particularly due to the treatment of Dharmesh Lakhani, a popular businessman and owner of Bobby's restaurant on Belgrave Road.

Lakhani was handcuffed outside the Shivalaya Mandir, the temple from which a flag was pulled down during the Leicester riots a year ago. He plans to file a complaint with the police regarding his treatment, as he claims it was not a procession but a small group transporting idols for the Ganesh celebration. Lakhani alleged that a rogue police officer arrived and began harassing the head priest of the temple, Madhusudhan Shastri, pushing and pulling him away from the procession. Lakhani tried to intervene and was then allegedly pushed by the officer, leading to his arrest. He has since sought medical treatment for the injuries sustained during the incident.

An open letter of complaint by Shyamal Raja, managing director of Midlands Care, calls for a formal written apology to be given to Lakhani and the priest and for an investigation into the police officer's actions. The police have confirmed that they are investigating the complaint. Videos of the incident circulating on social media show Lakhani shouting about his heart condition as he is pushed across the road and handcuffed. The crowd can be heard expressing their dissatisfaction with the police's handling of the situation, accusing them of preventing them from celebrating their festival.

The city of Leicester has had previous communal clashes, with the September 2022 unrest leading to several arrests. The UK government has set up an independent review to establish the facts surrounding the clashes. This latest incident has heightened tensions among the British Hindu community and raised concerns about the treatment of individuals during religious celebrations.