Lathicharge on Kanwariyas: Two FIRs lodged, Bareilly SSP shifted, two cops suspended

The first FIR has been lodged on charges of obstructing a public servant in discharging public functions, wrongful restraint, and assault or criminal intimidation.

Police said that no one has been arrested so far. “Around 5 to 7 people were detained. However, after police did not find their role in the incident, they were released soon after,” Bhati added.

Bareilly had witnessed tension in the Baradari area on July 23 after a group of kanwariyas claimed that stones were pelted at them. Police said that both sides had pelted stones at each other.

Meanwhile, UP minister and Bareilly Sadar MLA Arun Kumar Saxena met senior officials of the district administration on Monday and sought a report.

“I am here to collect first-hand information about what happened here. I spoke to people who were present at the spot. I will get a report on whose fault it was and a probe will be conducted and action will be taken accordingly,” Minister of State (Independent Charge), Forest and Environment Arun Kumar Saxena said.

Terming the incident “unfortunate”, BJP MLA from Bareilly Cantonment, Sanjeev Agarwal, said the administration should make preparations so that such an incident is not repeated. “It is very unfortunate that while our chief minister is showering flowers on kanwariyas, they are being lathicharged here. It was a failure of intelligence. The administration should make preparations so that such an incident is not repeated. We are here to increase the morale of people, and in the coming years, the kanwar yatra will be taken out here in Bareilly in a grand manner,” Agarwal said.

Following the incident on Sunday, Prabhakar Chaudhary, who was then SSP of Bareilly, had said that a row erupted after the kanwariyas wanted to take out the yatra in the Navada area under the Baradari police station limits which was not part of the designated route for Kanwar yatra.