Constable injured as two groups of Kanwariyas clash in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut

An Uttar Pradesh Police constable was assaulted in Meerut after attempting to prevent a violent clash between two groups of pilgrims during the Kanwar Yatra on Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 3 am when a motorcycle carrying two Kanwariyas collided with a group of devotees returning from Haridwar, carrying Ganga water.

This collision sparked an argument that quickly turned physical. Constable Dinesh Kumar intervened, but was pushed and hit on the head by one of the Kanwariyas. One of the attackers allegedly struck Kumar with a stick. Additional police arrived and quelled the disturbance. Inspector Suman Singh counseled the two groups to refrain from further violence, allowing them to proceed with their journey.

Police seized two abandoned scooters and a motorcycle at the scene. Videos circulating online allegedly show Kanwariyas dragging two men from a police jeep and beating them, with one man fleeing and being chased. Meerut police superintendent Vinayak Gopal Bhonsale denied claims of police involvement in the assault. On Monday, a group of Kanwariyas reportedly ransacked a van carrying schoolchildren in Lucknow, throwing stones.

The Kanwar Yatra, which begins on Thursday, involves millions of devotees collecting holy water from the Ganges to offer at Shiva temples. Security measures, including over 6,000 police personnel and central paramilitary forces, are in place across pilgrimage routes for the two-week event, expected to draw over 50 million participants.