A Muslim man in the Baghpat village in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, was allegedly beaten up at a local mosque by the community after he participated in the ongoing Kanwar Yatra and offered water to Lord Shiva. Babu Khan had brought back Ganga water in the Kanwar which irked the community. As per reports, after he returned on last Thursday, a section of his community turned against him and when he reached the mosque to offer Friday namaz, he was allegedly abused, attacked, beaten up and driven away. As per Times of India, Khan said he wanted to experience what strenuous journey the Kanwars undertake. He said he offered water to Lord Shiva from the river Ganga, but he is still a devout Muslim.

Khan claims that he was asked to go and ‘ring bells in a temple’ for participating in the Kanwar Yatra. He said that if people from his community continue harassing him like this, he would convert from Islam. He said that since last three years Lord Shiva would come in his thoughts and he would even pray to Shiva. Along with this, he continued following Islam and carrying out his duties as a Muslim. He said he was welcomed by the villagers when he came back from his Kanwar Yatra and offered some water in the temple of the village on his return. However, when he went to the mosque on Friday, some men present there allegedly beat him up.

This is not the first time a Muslim man was harassed for participating in a Kanwar Yatra. In 2016, a Muslim youth named Vakil from Bhainswal village in Uttar Pradesh was harassed and threatened for participating in Kanwar Yatra and bringing back water from the Ganga in the Kanwad. In fact, as per reports, he and his family were kicked out of their homes for him participating in the Yatra.

The police is currently investigating the incident.