‘They hit the van’: School kids terrified after attack involving kanwariyas in Lucknow

Kumar, however, denied reports that the kanwariyas pelted stones at the vehicle.

He further said the youths were believed to be kanwariyas based on their attire and the fact that they were carrying holy water containers typically used during the Kanwar Yatra.

Station House Officer, Chowk police station, Nagesh Upadhyay said minor students were inside the van at the time of the incident, but none of them suffered any injuries.

A purported video widely shared on social media shows a woman who claimed she witnessed the incident. In the video, she alleged that a group deliberately attacked the vehicle and used abusive language before fleeing.

According to police, they received information about the incident on Monday morning, following which a team was immediately dispatched to the spot.

A preliminary inquiry found that the school van had a minor collision with one of the three motorcycles. Upadhyay said the van driver had applied the brakes because of the rain, following which one of the motorcycles rammed into the rear of the vehicle.

The collision triggered a heated exchange between the van driver and the riders. During the argument, some of the kanwariyas allegedly struck the van with force, damaging its side mirror and rear-view mirror.

Police said officers stationed a short distance from the crossing rushed to the spot after noticing the commotion but the riders had fled by then. Before leaving, they allegedly threatened the van driver.