Kanwariyas turn violent after truck runs over 12-year-old in Haridwar

Enraged over the death of a 12-year-old Kanwariya, who was run over by a truck, fellow Kanwanriyas burnt down the truck and created ruckus in Bahadrabad block of Haridwar district on Wednesday.

This is the first incident of violence during the Kanwar pilgrimage this year.

The victim, Deepak, son of Suresh, resident of Sonipat in Haryana, was on his way back after collecting Ganga jal (water) from the Ganga river in Haridwar when a truck coming from behind hit him at Daulatpur village near Delhi Public School in the Bahadrabad block at 11 pm killing him on the spot, police said, adding that fellow Kanwariyas caught hold of the truck driver and beat him up before setting up the truck on fire. The Kanwariyas then also blocked the road.

After getting the information, senior superintendent of police Krishan Kumar VK and Kanwar Mela force nodal incharge Mamta Vohra reached the spot with heavy police force. By that time more than a million Kanwariyas had assembled in the city and the situation became volatile, as Kanwariyas clashes with the police at several points.

Keeping in view the situation, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were also called in to control the situation. Police took the body in its possession and sent it to the Civil Lines police station, from where it was later sent for the postmortem at Roorkee civil hospital.

The SSP, who was monitoring the situation till late in the evening, said the situation was brought under control and Kanwariyas have resumed their pilgrimage.

The Kanwar mela force incharge said a case has been registered at the Bahadrabad police station against the truck driver Sachin Kumar, resident of Bamanwala in Laksar area of Haridwar. Movement of heavy commercial vehicles was being monitored on the Kanwar stretch to avoid further untoward incidents, Vohra said.

According to the official figures, nearly 70 lakh Kanwariyas have visited Haridwar in the last six days. Haridwar district magistrate Deepak Rawat said Kanawariyas are presently reaching on foot, but from August 4, Kanwariyas will start reaching on bikes and other vehicles. “We have streamlined the traffic and diverted routes wherever necessary. The challenge will come once biker Kanwariyas will start reaching from August 4. But we are prepared,” he said.

The DM has also ordered closure of all educational institutions in the district from August 3 to August 10 to avoid traffic congestion in the city.

Meanwhile, volunteers of Shiv Parvati Sheeshwal Dham Shiv Kanwad Sewa Samiti Mandi Adampur (Hisar), who are holding a bhandara (free mass food service) for the Kanwariyas have also urged the Shiva devotees to cooperate with the mela and police administration.

The Kanwar Mela began on July 28 and will conclude on August 10.