- By Shibra Arshad
- Sun, 20 Jul 2025 07:59 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Given the frequent incidents of violence during the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttar Pradesh police have issued directions that carrying trishuls (Tridents), hockey sticks, and similar items is strictly prohibited during the Yatra. The ban is imposed on the districts coming in the route of Kanwar Yatra, including Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, Saharanpur, Bulandshahr, Hapur, and Baghpat.
The administration has also banned the use of motorbikes without silencers to curb nuisance and air pollution. The direction came after several incidents of violence involving Kanwariyas surfaced online. The violent incidents occurred both in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
As per authorities, display of weapons, even symbolic, will not be taken lightly. "The government has issued clear directives prohibiting it. We are enforcing these strictly, and FIRs are being registered against violators,” ADG Meerut Zone, Bhanu Bhaskar, was quoted by the Times of India.
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Numerous incidents of violence involving Kanwariyas in altercations and skirmishes on the pilgrimage route have come to light. In one of the recent incidents, Meerut's Pallavpuram, a group of Kanwariyas from Delhi was seen brandishing swords during the pilgrimage.
In an incident that took place in the same week, enraged pilgrims vandalised a school bus in Meerut after it accidentally grazed one of them. An FIR was filed against unidentified pilgrims from Ghaziabad.
In another incident, two Kanwariyas were arrested in Haridwar for vandalising a shop after an altercation with the owner.
In a separate but similar incident, reported by news agency PTI on July 14, a group of Kanwariyas vandalised a Dhaba in Muzzafarnagar after a piece of onion was allegedly found in their food.
As part of the crackdown following the ban, Muzaffarnagar police have seized 24 noisy bikes and fined 60 riders for not having silencers.
