Haridwar woman assaulted after scooty brushes against kanwar

A video of the assault was widely circulated on social media platforms.

A 40-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted by a group of kanwariyas near Rishikul in Haridwar after her scooty brushed against their kanwar (a decorated bamboo pole with water pots) on Sunday night, The Times of India reported.

A video of the assault was widely circulated on social media platforms. Pankaj Gairola, SP (Haridwar city), was quoted by TOI as saying, "The assaulted woman is yet to file a formal complaint. However, we've ordered the local police station to collect her details for further action."

In the video, a group of 7-8 kanwariyas, including a woman, could be seen engaging in a verbal spat with the victim (whose face is not visible) and then pulling her hair and attacking her, the report added.

The cops did not reveal the identity of the victim. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, two kanwariyas were arrested for vandalising a mobile shop in Haridwar.

"The two kanwariyas have been identified as Mukesh alias Jhandu (34) and Mukesh alias Kana (20). Both belong to Fatehabad, Haryana. A FIR was registered against them under BNS sections 126 (wrongful restraint) and 135 (assault or use of criminal force), among others. The shop vandalism incident may have been caused due to a price dispute,” police added.

In yet another incident, kanwariyas breached a police barrier near Rishikul whilst attempting to access the Delhi-Haridwar highway on Monday, requiring police intervention to direct them towards the designated kanwar route, the report added.

Following the spate of violations by kanwariyas, Haridwar SSP Pramendra Dobhal urged kanwariyas to cooperate with local police and "not defame the sacred yatra".

As per the report, he warned that "action will be taken against anyone found creating trouble along the kanwar route." A local was quoted by TOI sating that the administration did not allow kanwariyas to use Delhi-Haridwar highway, but kanwariyas seemed to have occupied half of the road already, despite the designated path. The administration plans to open the highway for them "after about a week of the yatra's commencement".