The Uttar Pradesh police detained a tandoor worker and the owner of a local eatery on Wednesday following complaints that the worker had been spitting on rotis before baking them. The arrests were prompted by a viral video shared by Bajrang Dal, which allegedly captured the incident.
According to police officials, the video showed the tandoor worker spitting on the rotis prior to placing them in the tandoor. Following the registration of a complaint, both the eatery owner and the worker were taken into custody. Superintendent of Police, City, Abhimanyu Manglik, stated, “The accused are currently under interrogation, and further actions will be taken based on the investigation.”
This incident is part of a troubling trend in Uttar Pradesh, where multiple reports have surfaced of food workers allegedly contaminating food with spit or human waste. In response, the UP government announced plans to introduce stringent new laws targeting sellers who “hide their identity” or mix harmful substances into food and beverages.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that violators will face imprisonment and fines, categorizing such offenses as cognizable and non-bailable. He described these incidents as “horrific,” warning that they could adversely affect social harmony and consumer health.
To enhance food safety and restore consumer confidence, Adityanath directed officials to draft clear regulations aimed at preventing such incidents in hotels, restaurants, dhabas, and street food stalls. During a recent meeting, he also mandated that all food establishments install sufficient CCTV cameras to monitor activities, particularly in kitchens and dining areas. He stressed that footage should be accessible to district administration on demand for at least one month.
