Two mosques and a mazar in Haridwar, located on the route of the Kanwar Yatra, were concealed from view using large white sheets on Friday morning. The district administration reportedly removed the sheets by evening, with the police saying what happened was a mistake.
Administration claimed that they did not issue any order to put up the sheets; meanwhile, the Haridwar district in charge minister Satpal Maharaj said the measures were taken to prevent the unrest during the yatra.
This is the first time such a thing has happened. The yatra route in Haridwar passes through the Jwalapur area of the city, where the mosques and the mazar are located.
When asked about the move, Satpal Maharaj said, “If this is done, it is so that there is no agitation and no flare-up. It was kept in mind that our Kanwar Yatra should go smoothly. When there is any construction, that structure is also covered. We have done the same here and will see what feedback we get. We will study that.”
However, Haridwar Superintendent of Police (City) Swatantra Kumar, however, told The Indian Express that there was no order to do so—either from the district administration or the police.
“We have also talked to the party concerned and removed the covers. We have talked to the locals, too. Barricades were being installed on the Yatra route, and there must have been some mistake in that, leading to the covers. It was not intentional,” said Kumar.
The Kanwar Yatra started on July 22 and will conclude on August 2. The tradition of the Kanwar Yatra involves Kanwariyas travelling to sites like Haridwar to collect water from the Ganga River, then carrying it back to their local Shiva temples for ritual purposes.
However, during this Yatra many tragic incidents have happened this year. On July 24, a man identified as Aaqib alleged that a group of Kanwariyas physically assaulted him and vandalised his car. The incident occurred during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra.
According to Aaqib, the altercation began when the Kanwariyas confronted him over an unspecified issue. Eyewitnesses reported that the situation escalated quickly, leading to a physical confrontation. Aaqib claims that the Kanwariyas not only beat him but also vandalised his vehicle, causing significant damage.
Following the incident, Aaqib approached local authorities to file a complaint against the Kanwariyas involved. The police have reportedly initiated a probe into the matter, and efforts are being made to identify those responsible for the attack.
In another incident, A purported video made the rounds over the internet. It captures Kanwadis attacking a car with four Muslim men inside. They can be seen vandalising the vehicle with sticks and rods and brutally assaulting the elderly Muslim man while chanting “Jai Shree Ram.”
