KAWAD YATRA 2026 - Conflict of law or conflict of interest? Violence on the path of faith

New Delhi | INS NEWS- Special

The month of Sawan... the chants of 'Bol Bomb'... the faith of millions of Shiva devotees... but in the midst of this holy journey, the incidents of violence, assault and vandalism that have come to light from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have once again raised serious questions. After all, why do such pictures appear every year during the Kanwar Yatra? Is the hooliganism of some people tainting the sanctity of the entire yatra?

Four separate incidents in Meerut, Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Roorkee have forced one to wonder when the trend of taking law into one's hands in the name of faith will stop.

Meerut: Police jeep attacked

The incident took place in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh. The first clash took place between two Kanwariyas who were returning from Haridwar with water. Meanwhile, a bike rider was injured in the incident.

On receiving information, two police teams reached the spot. However, after the accused fled from the spot, the police swung into action.

It is alleged that the policemen were dragged out of the government jeep and beaten up. The video of the entire incident has been going viral on social media. Police are in the process of identifying the accused based on the video.

Lucknow. Stones pelted at school van

Chaos erupted near Charak chowk in the capital Lucknow when stones were pelted at a school van full of children.

The glass of the van broke due to the stones and the innocent children sitting inside started crying in fear. Traffic on the road was disrupted for some time. Later, police and locals reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

The biggest question is, why should innocent children have to pay the price for any controversy?

Ghaziabad. The ambulance carrying the patient was stuck in the jam for 50 minutes

In Ghaziabad, an ambulance collided with a trolley of kanwariyas in front of the railway road on the Delhi-Meerut road, damaging the kanwar.

After this, the angry kanwariyas beat up the ambulance driver and started a ruckus on the road.

The situation became so bad that there was a long jam for about 50 minutes, in which the same ambulance carrying the patient was also stuck. There was a long queue of vehicles on the highway.

This incident raises serious questions not only on law and order but also on human sensibilities.

Roorkee: The car caught fire after the explosion

In Roorkee, Uttarakhand, kanwariyas returning from Haridwar were hit by a car, which damaged one of the kanwars.

Some of them started vandalising the car. The situation was brought under control after police reached the spot.

The most interesting thing was that the car that was vandalised also had Kanwariyas in it. Police are investigating the entire case.

Video viral on social media

Videos of the incident are going viral on social media. Violence, stone-pelting, vandalism and chaos on the streets are clearly visible in the video.

Police, however, said they are investigating the case and action will be taken accordingly.

Police begins probe

Meerut, Lucknow, Ghaziabad and Roorkee police have started identifying the accused on the basis of viral videos, CCTV footage and statements of eyewitnesses.

Officials say anyone taking law into their hands will not be spared, irrespective of the group they belong to.

The big question is, why do these things happen every year?

Kanwar Yatra is a festival of faith for crores of devotees. Millions of people complete the journey peacefully immersed in the devotion of Lord Shiva.

But every year the violent acts of some anti-social elements damage the dignity of the entire yatra.

Religion can never be above the law. Even if there is a situation of an accident or dispute, it should be resolved through police and law, not through violence, stone-pelting and vandalism on the road.

About INS NEWS 

Faith deserves respect, but anarchy can never be acceptable. The message of Kanwar Yatra is devotion, discipline and restraint. If some people choose the path of violence, they hurt not only the law but also the sentiments of crores of devotees and the dignity of this sacred tradition.

Religion teaches us restraint, not hysteria. Respect for law is the biggest identity of any faith.