gurgaon

Updated: Aug 10, 2018 03:16 IST

A group of people participating in the fortnight-long kanwar yatra allegedly beat up a cyclist after his cycle grazed past one of them in Chawan village near Pataudi on Wednesday evening. The kanwariyas allegedly attacked the victim with canes and sledgehammers, leaving him critically injured.

According to police, the incident took place when a man, from village Devla, was riding his bicycle. His bicycle allegedly grazed the kanwar (pot) of one of the pilgrims. This enraged the kanwariyas, who were going to the Shiv temple in Rewari, and they allegedly attacked the man.

Rajesh Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Manesar, said the victim had decided against filing a police complaint. “A police team was rushed to the spot and took control of the situation. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment,” said Kumar.

After the incident a group of villagers gathered at the spot and protested against the brutality of kanwariyas, demanding action against them, police said.

After last year’s clashes, procession peaceful in Bareilly village

More than 200 kanwariyas marched in peace through Khelum village of Bareilly on Thursday, under the watchful eyes of the district administration and police personnel. Police had this year issued “warning red cards” to pilgrims who they suspected of inciting trouble during the annual yatra.

The tight security cover this year was put in place by the district administration that wanted to avoid a repeat of last year’s violence, during which more than 30 people were injured in this village during the annual kanwar procession.

Officials said local police this year had started groundwork to ensure that the yatra happened without any untoward incidents in advance.

People deemed ‘susceptible to get involved in clashes’ were identified and issued ‘warning cards’. The cards, which are red in colour, reads, “We have come to know from trusted sources that you may cause trouble in Kanwar yatra. So you are being warned with this card.”

An estimated 3,000 such cards were issued across the district, around 280 of which went to residents of Khelum, both Hindus and Muslims, local police officials said. The local police also got bonds of Rs 5 lakh signed by those who had been involved in incidents of violence in the past.