Hyderabad, Sept. 26 -- Mustakim Khan, Anuj Chaudhary, Bushra Bano and K Shilpavalli are all Indian police officers serving in different states, but that's where the similarity ends: while Chaudhary and Shilpavalli can take part in Hindu religious processions while on duty, Khan and Bano cannot openly participate in festivities connected with their faith and are 'punished'.

Their cases raise questions over how religious expression and participation are treated differently within the police force.

Several videos of Hyderabad Police officers on bandobast duty-both men and women-dancing exuberantly with devotees to religious tunes during the Khairatabad Bada Ganesh immersion have surfaced on social media platforms.

One such video shows Add...