Sugarcane Juice Stall Burnt in Lucknow After Video of Shopkeeper’s Special-Needs Son Goes Viral
Family’s decade-old roadside business destroyed after viral clip sparks outrage and alleged mob attack.
A roadside sugarcane juice stall in Lucknow was set on fire late Friday night after a video showing the shopkeeper’s mentally challenged son licking ice cubes near the juice machine went viral on social media.
The incident took place in the Jankipuram area of the city. The stall belonged to Munna, a resident of Bahraich district, who has reportedly been running the small business in the locality for the past 10 to 12 years without any major issues.
According to local reports, Munna and his family were not present at the stall when the incident occurred, as they had travelled to Bahraich to visit relatives. During their absence, unidentified individuals allegedly set the stall ablaze, completely destroying the structure and equipment.
The controversy began after a short video circulated widely on WhatsApp, X, and other social media platforms on Friday. The clip showed Munna’s young son—believed to be between 7 and 10 years old and reportedly suffering from a mental disability—licking a block of ice placed near the sugarcane crushing machine. The person recording the video was heard using abusive language while criticizing the act.
Local residents say the father was not present when the incident in the video occurred.
Members of the community and several Muslim leaders have condemned the arson, describing it as an unfair act that targeted a small family’s livelihood. They argue that the video was misused by certain elements to create outrage and damage the shop.
A local resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Munna had been serving juice in the area for more than a decade and had never faced complaints from customers. Community members also stressed that the child’s special needs should have been treated with understanding rather than leading to hostility against the family.
Police from Jankipuram police station have registered a case of arson against unidentified persons. Authorities said an investigation is underway to identify those responsible and determine the exact circumstances behind the attack.
Munna’s wife, who works at a nearby mattress shop, reportedly expressed deep distress over the destruction of their only source of income.
Community members and activists have called for strict action against those involved and have urged
