Ghaziabad police suspect a single gang to be behind Kanwariya violence

For the past two days, no violence was reported in the district and police suspect that the group may have moved out of the district

Senior officers of the Ghaziabad police are looking at the involvement of a single group behind the recent incidents of violence in the district during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra. Since no new incident of violence was reported over the last two days, police believe that group may have moved out of Ghaziabad.

Huge drums, speakers and with DJ sets were seen in the Kanwar Yatra at Nandgram on Delhi-Meerut Road, in Ghaziabad, on Wednesday. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

“We sense that there is a pattern behind the incidents of violence which started from Haridwar, moved to Muzaffarnagar, from there to Meerut and then to Ghaziabad. It appears that an unruly group or groups resorted to violence. For the past two days, no violence was reported in the district and we suspect that the group may have moved out of the district,” said Dinesh Kumar P, additional police commissioner.

The Kanwar Yatra season began on July 22 and will continue till August 5.

On July 25, several pilgrims allegedly beat up a contractual worker near the Muradnagar canal area for asking them not to sit on a fence that he was erecting.

On July 27, dozens of angry Kanwariyas beat up a Honda City car driver in Muradnagar after the car mistakenly entered the lane reserved for Kanwariyas from Modinagar and drove till Muradnagar. Police booked the driver in that case.

“The FIR was filed by the liquor shop owner,” said Rajneesh Upadhyay, assistant commissioner of police, Sahibabad.

The FIR mentions three to four unidentified men and a woman.

“We have directed all police stations to inquire and ascertain whether a specific group was involved in all these incidents. For that, the officials will scan pictures, CCTV and video footage from Ghaziabad,” Dinesh Kumar P said.

A DCP rank officer said the police are presently busy with overseeing that the Kanwariyas pass peacefully through Ghaziabad district.

“Currently, all administrative arrangements are being taken up and monitored to ensure that Kanwar Yatra moves out peacefully. After that, other legal formalities will be taken up,” the officer said while asking not to be named.