Sat Jun 21 12:19:10 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, incorporating the context from “The Hindu” and its various sections:
**The Hindu: Pooja at Salem Police Station Sparks Inquiry**
**Salem, India – June 21, 2025** – A video circulating on social media has prompted an investigation into a religious ceremony held at the Alagapuram police station in Salem city. The video, taken by members of the public lodging complaints, shows two transgender individuals performing a pooja (prayer ceremony) inside the station around 8:30 PM on Friday.
According to sources within the Alagapuram police station, the station had not been cleaned in several months. After a cleaning on Friday, police personnel performed a pooja, and the two transgender individuals, who were present at the station, expressed their desire to participate. Police officials reportedly allowed them to do so.
Salem City Police Commissioner Praveen Kumar Abhinapu has ordered an inquiry into the incident, which comes amidst ongoing discussions in India about religious practices in public spaces, a topic regularly covered by *The Hindu* in its national and local news sections. The incident also brings into focus issues of inclusivity and representation of transgender individuals, a subject often explored in the newspaper’s coverage of social justice and minority rights.
The investigation is expected to determine whether the pooja violated any regulations or guidelines regarding religious activities in police stations and whether allowing the public to participate was appropriate. *The Hindu* will continue to follow this developing story, providing updates as they become available.
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