Internet suspended in UP’s Saharanpur after Gurjar community’s ‘gaurav yatra’ triggers tension, 40 detained

While the Gurjar community said the king belonged to their caste and that they had every right to take out a yatra in his name, the Rajputs said Bhoj was a Rajput king and insisted that no one else would be allowed to take out such a procession.

Rajiv Sabharwal, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP-Meerut) said, “Additional companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been sent from Meerut and heavy police deployment has been made in Saharanpur to avert a possible clash between the two castes.”

“We are keeping a close watch on social media and have also appealed to the people not to pay heed to rumours. We have taken 40 people in custody for taking out the yatra despite the local administration denying permission for the same,” the ADGP said.

Ahead of Monday’s procession, leaders from both communities met higher officials on Sunday, but apprehending a clash, District Magistrate Dinesh Chand imposed prohibitory orders under CrPC section 144 and the police denied permission for the yatra.

On Monday afternoon, however, a few hundred people from the Gurjar community assembled in Saharanpur’s Phandpuri village. Though a police force was already deputed in the area to prevent them, the participants assured the officers that they will return after walking a short distance.

As the yatra marched ahead, the crowd swelled to thousands and continued to move forward, removing barricades and leaving the police struggling to control them. Ignoring repeated police warnings, the crowd completed the full yatra and returned to Phandipur village.

Samajwadi Party MLA Atul Pradhan and hundreds of others from nearby districts and Haryana also tried to join the yatra, but were detained by the police at the Saharanpur border. “The police favour the Rajput community because our Chief Minister belongs to that caste, but we will continue to agitate,” Pradhan said.

Upset by the yatra, hundreds of members of the Rajput community assembled at the Rajput Bhavan and then took to the streets in Saharanpur on Monday afternoon, staging blockades and bringing traffic to a grinding halt. Apprehending further tension, the district magistrate suspended internet services till further orders on Monday evening.

Virendra Vikram, president of the All India Veer Gurjar Mahasabha, said, “King Mihir Bhoj is revered by those belonging to our caste and we did nothing wrong when our people took out a yatra to show our obeisance to the great king.”

Khushpal Singh, the Saharanpur unit chief of the All India Kshatriya Mahasabha, said, “We have challenged the claim of the Gurjar community regarding our King Mihir Bhoj in various courts, but no decision has been taken yet. Mihir Bhoj was a symbol of Rajput honour and we will not allow anyone to misuse our king’s name.”