Viral videos show police personnel present at the spot but not intervening immediately, which drew sharp criticism online
HARIDWAR — A group of Kanwariyas vandalised a car and assaulted its occupants after the vehicle allegedly brushed against pilgrims and their sacred Kanwars in Manglaur, Haridwar district, on Saturday evening.
The incident took place at Maurya Point near Abdul Kalam Chowk. According to police, a white car attempting to turn towards Manglaur from an approach road came too close to a group of 7-8 Kanwariyas walking towards Meerut with their water pitchers. The pilgrims alleged that the contact disrupted the sacred Ganga water they were carrying.
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Mob Violence Caught on Camera
What began as a minor roadside contact quickly escalated into mob violence. Videos that went viral on social media show several men surrounding the car, smashing its windows, mirrors, doors and roof with sticks and rods, and one individual repeatedly jumping on the roof. The front of the car was crushed and all windows were shattered.
The videos also show police personnel present at the spot but not intervening immediately, which drew sharp criticism online. Supreme Court lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan shared the footage, highlighting what he described as police leniency towards Kanwariya groups compared to the treatment of other protesters like last month’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.
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Contrary to initial unverified claims of an intoxicated driver, the victims said they were driving cautiously. “We had used the turn indicator properly. Our vehicle didn’t even touch them. Their attack on us continued for over 10 minutes. It was a terrifying experience,” said victim Nazim Ahmad Jhojha, 35.
The occupants of the car were a family from Akbarpur Dhadki village, including two women and two children. They were rescued by locals and police and shifted to Roorkee Civil Hospital. Earlier reports that described it as a Haryana-registered car travelling towards Delhi have not been confirmed in the police complaint.
Based on the family’s complaint, Haridwar Police registered a case at Manglaur Police Station against two named accused — Sagar Jaiveer of Baghpat and Shubham Tyagi of Meerut — and several unidentified Kanwariyas.
In an official statement posted on Saturday, Haridwar Police said: “During the Kanwar Yatra in the Manglaur area, when a car brushed against Kanwariyas, they attempted to damage the vehicle in anger. A case has been registered under relevant sections for damaging the car and assault, and legal action is being taken.”
The FIR has been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. As all charges carry a punishment of less than seven years, the accused were granted bail after being permitted to continue their yatra.
SSP Haridwar Ajai Singh denied a communal angle that was being alleged on social media about the victims belonging to the Muslim community.
Pilgrimage Routes Under Pressure
The incident has again highlighted the challenge of managing traffic and public safety during the Kanwar Yatra, which this year runs from July 30 to August 11. Every year, lakhs of pilgrims travel on foot along highways connecting Haridwar with several northern states, prompting special traffic restrictions.
Anticipating massive crowds, Uttarakhand Police had deployed extensive security arrangements, including additional personnel, traffic diversions, intelligence units and rapid response teams across pilgrimage routes.
Officials have repeatedly appealed to motorists to exercise caution and obey diversion plans. Despite these measures, similar confrontations have been reported in previous years across Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Law enforcement agencies have maintained that while accidents must be investigated under the law, retaliation and mob violence cannot be justified.
