In Haridwar, mosques and mazar on Kanwar Yatra route briefly hidden using covers, police say ‘mistake’

The yatra route in Haridwar passes through the Jwalapur area of the city, where the mosques and the mazar are located. This is the first time such a thing has happened.

Asked about the move, Satpal Maharaj said, “If this is done, it is so that there is no agitation and no flare up. It was kept in mind that our Kanwar Yatra should go smoothly. When there is any construction, that structure is also covered… We have done (the same) here and will see what feedback we get. We will study that.”

Haridwar Superintendent of Police (City) Swatantra Kumar, however, told The Indian Express that there was no order to do so – either from the district administration or the police.

“We have also talked to the party concerned and removed the covers. We have talked to the locals, too. Barricades were being installed on the yatra route, and there must have been some mistake in that, leading to the covers. It was not intentional,” said Kumar.