New Delhi: Several people were injured after stones were pelted during a Kanwar procession in Jogi Nawada area of Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. Police sources told PTI that several Kanwariyas sustained minor injuries and were discharged after treatment.
The incident took place near the Shahnoori mosque when the kanwariyas were on their way to Budaun to get water from the Ganga River.
Police said the kanwariyas staged a brief protest demanding action against their attackers. However, the situation was soon brought under control.
“In the Jogi Nawada area of Baradari police station area of Bareilly, some miscreants pelted stones at the Kanwar Yatra. More than a dozen Kanwar Yatris were injured in the stone pelting. Police officers reached the spot and restored peace. Everything will become clear after the investigation. Police have arrested one person in connection with the matter. A case has been registered. Further investigation is underway,” news agency ANI quoted Bareilly SP City Rahul Bhati as saying.
Earlier, SSP Prabhakar Chaudhary in a statement, had said that CCTV footage of area showed stones were hurled from both sides as the procession went past a religious spot.
“So far, there is no information about anyone getting injured. A kanwar procession was passing through the area at around 3 pm. As it went past a religious spot, there was a dispute over throwing (of something), and when it moved 40-50 metres ahead, stones were pelted by some persons. When the footage was examined, it was seen that stones were hurled from both the sides,” the statement said.
"The police force present at the spot has controlled the situation, and the procession has moved ahead. So far, there is no information about anyone getting injured. There is peace at the spot," the statement added.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Minister Arun Kumar, MLA from Bareilly, said that some miscreants wanted to create tension in the state.
"An impartial probe will be conducted, and those found guilty will be given strict punishment," Kumar told PTI.
According to Additional District Magistrate (City) RD Pandey, additional police has been deployed to maintain peace in the area.