Kanwariyas clash with police after villagers object to DJ music
Circle officer (CO) Ramchandra Choudhary said, "On Sunday, a group of people in the village had objected to playing of the DJ during the kanwar yatra, but another group was adamant. On Monday afternoon, they started playing the DJ and there was a conflict between both groups. Police reached the spot while the driver of the DJ vehicle fled."
According to the villagers, a kanwar yatra from Muhami village was on its way to Bumbani, playing DJ music during the procession.
"The other group was annoyed as they had already conveyed that no DJ music should be played in the yatra. Gegal police reached the spot and tried to control the situation," said one of the villagers, adding that police asked to stop the DJ music but the kanwariyas continued to play it.
A Gegal police constable said, "Some of the kanwariyas tried to attack the police, but the situation was controlled." For more than half an hour, there was ruckus on the road, other villagers said. Angry kanwariyas sat on a dharna on the road, stating that their religious feelings were hurt, but police resolved the situation. "We have deputed police in the village to control any situation," added another official.
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Time of India
28-07-2025
- Time of India
Kanwariyas clash with police after villagers object to DJ music
Ajmer: Kanwariyas in Muhami village in Ajmer district scuffled with police personnel Monday afternoon after locals objected to their playing of DJ music. The kanwariyas were adamant about playing the DJ and "tried to attack police", a constable said, during which the driver of the vehicle carrying the DJ system fled the scene. Circle officer (CO) Ramchandra Choudhary said, "On Sunday, a group of people in the village had objected to playing of the DJ during the kanwar yatra, but another group was adamant. On Monday afternoon, they started playing the DJ and there was a conflict between both groups. Police reached the spot while the driver of the DJ vehicle fled." According to the villagers, a kanwar yatra from Muhami village was on its way to Bumbani, playing DJ music during the procession. "The other group was annoyed as they had already conveyed that no DJ music should be played in the yatra. Gegal police reached the spot and tried to control the situation," said one of the villagers, adding that police asked to stop the DJ music but the kanwariyas continued to play it. A Gegal police constable said, "Some of the kanwariyas tried to attack the police, but the situation was controlled." For more than half an hour, there was ruckus on the road, other villagers said. Angry kanwariyas sat on a dharna on the road, stating that their religious feelings were hurt, but police resolved the situation. "We have deputed police in the village to control any situation," added another official.
The Print
18-07-2025
- The Print
UP bans tridents, hockey sticks during Kanwar Yatra following spate of violence & Oppn barbs
Saharanpur Range DIG Abhishek Singh directed officials Thursday to strictly implement all guidelines during a video conference with district officials and representatives of the Kanwar Yatra Sangh, emphasising the importance of enforcing the rules for Kanwariyas. The restrictions were imposed in Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Hapur and Baghpat as the Kanwar Yatra progresses through several districts in Uttar Pradesh, with thousands of devotees travelling by foot and by vehicle to collect holy water from the Ganga. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police have banned Kanwar Yatra pilgrims from carrying sticks, tridents, hockey sticks and using motorbikes without silencers in parts of the state following a string of clashes and incidents of vandalism during the pilgrimage. 'No Kanwar pilgrim should carry sticks or tridents, and the use of modified bikes without silencers must stop,' he said in a video statement. He also urged those transporting Kanwars in large vehicles to ensure the size of the Kanwar and DJ setups are within permissible limits, citing road conditions and safety. Singh told ThePrint they were 'advisory measures for the Kanwaryias who are passing through Muzzaffarnagar, Saharanpur and Shamli'. Another senior UP police officer and ADG of Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhasker, told ThePrint that authorities are taking all necessary steps to prevent incidents of vandalism during the Kanwar Yatra. 'We have implemented strict measures to curb any violence. Action has already been taken against those found involved in such activities. Additionally, the carrying of weapons during the Kanwar Yatra has also been prohibited in the Meerut zone.' The Kanwar Yatra, an annual event in which devotees travel to collect water from the Ganga in Haridwar and other holy sites to offer at Shiva temples, began on 11 July and will last for about two weeks. Also Read: SC stays UP and Uttarakhand's controversial nameplate orders for food stalls during Kanwar Yatra More than a dozen incidents reported The measures were put in place after over a dozen incidents of violence were reported in western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand over the past week. UP police has not released any data on the cases registered against Kanwariyas, but data from the Mela Police Force Control Room in Uttarakhand showed that more than 170 Kanwariyas were booked under charges such as hooliganism, rioting, blocking highways, obstructing police personnel, breach of peace and wrongful restraint in five days since the Kanwar Yatra began. In Uttar Pradesh, most cases of vandalism occurred in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad and Kanpur, while in Uttarakhand, Haridwar has emerged as the focal point of such disturbances. According to media reports, a group of Kanwariyas threw stones at a mini-truck Thursday and broke its windows after it allegedly hit a Kanwariya crossing a road in the Daurala area of Meerut on the Delhi-Dehradun Highway (NH-58). The situation escalated quickly as more Kanwariyas joined in. Police took the injured Kanwariya to the hospital and brought the situation under control. No FIR has been lodged. In another incident on 14 July, a group of Kanwariyas allegedly vandalised a dhaba in Meerapur, accusing its Muslim owners of not displaying their identities at their establishment, police said. Earlier, a group of Kanwariyas vandalised a dhaba in Muzaffarnagar after they were allegedly served onion in their food. The Kanwariyas are accused of damaging furniture, the kitchen and the ceiling fans at the dhaba. Another group of Kanwariyas damaged a car in Ghaziabad on the same day, claiming it had hit a Kanwar. Video clips showed a Kanwariya standing on top of the car, smashing its windshield with a stick. Police were present but did not stop them. In Meerut, Kanwariyas damaged a school bus Tuesday, alleging it had brushed a Kanwar. Tension also rose in the Shivrajpur area of Kanpur on 15 July, after a Kanwar pilgrim was injured. Other Kanwariyas blamed the police for the injury and attacked them. Later, around 80-90 people reached the Shivrajpur police station, created a ruckus and reportedly entered the station. They are accused of misbehaving with the inspector and other policemen. In Uttarakhand's Haridwar, four Kanwariyas reportedly vandalised an eyeglass shop on Tuesday after the shopkeeper refused to lower the price. Although the incident was caught on CCTV installed by the police, no action was taken against them. Politicians raising questions Azad Samaj Party chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad questioned the UP administration for not being able to control vandalism during the Kanwar Yatra. 'Why is there free rein for hooliganism in the name of religion?' Every other day, vandalism happens in West UP in the name of faith; this is worrisome,' he told ThePrint. Badaun Samajwadi Party MP Aditya Yadav raised concern over the recent violent incidents during the Kanwar Yatra. Referring to an incident where a girl was beaten simply for touching a scooter, he said in Sambhal such actions go against the spirit of devotion and added that God would not accept Gangajal brought through such behaviour. He emphasised that Kanwariyas who carry Gangajal with true devotion deserve respect, while those engaging in anti-social activities in the name of the Yatra must be strongly condemned. He also urged the police administration to ensure peace and harmony throughout the pilgrimage. Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP) urged devotees to maintain the spiritual essence of the pilgrimage and avoid actions that tarnish its religious significance. In a statement, ABAP president Mahant Ravindra Puri expressed concern over the rising violence, emphasising that the Yatra stands for 'compassion', not 'aggression'. Yogi & Dhami have a different stand Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told the media that security had been tightened, but the number of Kanwariyas is increasing every day. 'We have clearly directed the police to ensure that no one takes the law into their own hands, and they are carrying out their duties accordingly,' he said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath strongly condemned attempts to malign the image of Kanwar pilgrims, saying that branding them as miscreants or 'terrorists' is an insult to India's cultural and spiritual heritage. 'During the holy month of Sawan, Kanwariyas undertake their yatra with devotion, chanting 'Har Har Bam Bam'. Yet, some people from other communities insult them and label them as terrorists. They are subjected to media trials and defamed, which is completely wrong,' the chief minister said at a public event in Varanasi on Friday. He added that such a mindset not only targets the pilgrims but also disrespects the faith and traditions of the country. Earlier on Monday, he instructed officials to arrange floral showers from helicopters at key points along the Kanwar Yatra route as a mark of respect and welcome for devotees during the holy month of Sawan. In a review meeting on Kanwar Yatra on 14 July, Adityanath emphasised the need for officials to remain alert, sensitive and proactive to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for the pilgrims. He also stressed the importance of comprehensive arrangements along the Yatra route, including cleanliness, medical aid, drinking water, food canteens, rest stops and toilets. Officials have been directed to pay special attention to the safety and comfort of women Kanwariyas, with instructions for the effective deployment of female police personnel. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: Displaying eatery owners' names doesn't protect Kanwariyas' sentiments. It's discrimination
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Time of India
Groom assaulted in dispute over DJ song in Ghazipur, dies; 3 held
Ghazipur: A groom, Rakesh Ram (25), was thrashed by a group of youths in a dispute over DJ song in Jagdishpur village under Dildarnagar police station in Ghazipur on Thursday night. He was taken to the Trauma Centre of BHU in Varanasi where he succumbed to his injuries on Friday night. Videos of the incident went viral on social media. Angered over his killing, Ram's family members blocked the Tadi Ghat-Bara road on Saturday and staged a massive protest. Ghazipur CO Jamania, Ramkrishna Tiwari, said on Saturday that so far, three accused, including one who was brandishing a country-made revolver during the attack and also appeared in the one of the viral videos of the incident site, were arrested. Teams were carrying out raids for the arrest of other accused in this connection. The CO said that following the postmortem examination last rites of Ram were performed on Saturday night. The case, initially registered as an attempt to murder, was converted into a murder case. The marriage of Rakesh Ram, a native of Trilokpur village in Revatipur area was scheduled with Rajkumari of Jagdishpur village on Thursday. When the jaimal (garlanding) ceremony started, two groups of youths started fighting over playing of their favourite song on the DJ. On seeing this, Ram's father, Brigadier Ram, tried to intervene but he was thrashed by the youths. Seeing this, Ram also intervened to save his father when the assailants hit his head with some utensils. Ram fell down unconscious after which the assailants fled the scene. Brigadier Ram and the bride's father, Rajendra Ram, rushed Ram to a local hospital, where doctors referred him to the Trauma Centre of BHU in Varanasi due to his critical condition. Ram succumbed to his injuries during the course of treatment on Friday evening. Tension gripped Trilokpur when Ram's body arrived after the postmortem examination on Saturday evening. Locals blocked Tadi Ghat-Bara road and staged a protest. Their protest was called off after the senior officials reached there and assured them that no guilty would be spared. An FIR was lodged against Vinod Ram from Tajpur Manjha and others, including Pradeep alias Kallu, Monu Ram, Pappu, Bagha Ram alias Mithlesh, Vishal Ram, Saklu, and Vipin in this connection. A video of the bride trying to stop the bleeding of the injured groom with her bridal sari went viral on social media on Sunday.
