MEERUT: Seven kanwariyas from Haryana were charged with attempted murder and rioting after allegedly attacking two bike-borne men and vandalising their bike in Gagalheri region of Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur.
The incident occurred around 9.30pm Tuesday when two bikers accidentally collided with a group of kanwariyas, said police.
SP (city) Abhimanyu Manglik told TOI, "The group of kanwariyas was heading to Haryana when the biker lost control of his bike as the lane was narrow and hit them accidentally. Complainant Aman Kumar stated that his companion and he were thrashed by lathis and sticks and their bike was vandalised as the group claimed the holy water they were carrying got desecrated." He added, "On the basis of his complaint, an FIR under BNS sections of attempt to murder, rioting, voluntarily causing hurt and mischief was lodged at Gagalheri police station against Sachin, Vinod, Vinder, Sukhvinder, Jagdeep, Bhuta, and Karan Singh, all residents of Yamuna Nagar in Haryana." This incident is one of several recent cases of violence involving kanwariyas. On Sunday in Muzaffarnagar, a man named Mohd Abid was thrashed and his car was vandalised by kanwariyas who alleged he had desecrated the holy water they were carrying. Abid sustained major injuries, including to his head, during the attack, a video of which was widely circulated on social media. Abid later said, "I wasn't speeding. I abruptly stopped owing to a biker who crossed my car at high speed. Meanwhile, the kanwariyas began thrashing me. They didn't show any mercy, even though it wasn't my fault. They also tried to stab me with an ice-pick. The way they vandalised my car, it is not in a condition to be repaired. I am merely seeking compensation."
In Uttarakhand, four Kanwariyas were arrested on Saturday for attacking an employee of Janaki Pul parking lot with swords. Those arrested include Mahant Saurabh Giri Naga Baba (40), Divya alias Deepu (19), Rajat (19) and Arun (18), all from Haryana's Sonipat.