Scores of Kanwariyas (pilgrims participating in Kanwar Yatra) on Wednesday blocked the Grand Trunk (GT) Road near Muslim-dominated Seelampur in north-east Delhi and staged a protest alleging that a piece of meat was thrown outside a Kanwar camp, set up near the Seelampur Metro station parking, as a result of which the holy Ganga water that they fetched from Haridwar had gone impure. The protest held up traffic for nearly an hour, resulting in long tailbacks on both sides of the carriageway.

According to the reports, the Kanwariyas, hailing from Alwar, Rajasthan are on a 14-day of Kanwar Yatra in which they fetch the holy Ganga water from Haridwar for the Shiv temple in Alwar. The Kanwariya had walked continuously for seven days and had reached Seelampur on July 19 which is a Muslim-dominated area. The Kanwariyas had set up a camp near the Seelampur Metro station parking. The Yatra was interrupted after the Kanwars on their way back to Alwar discovered that some unidentified person had thrown a piece of meat at the Kanwar outside the camp.

Police later clarified that they did not find any meat at the camp and are scanning the CCTV footage to ascertain the veracity of the allegations.

The Kanwariyas staged a protest and raised slogans against the Delhi government and Police authorities and alleged that someone deliberately had thrown the meat at the yatra. They stated that the incident had hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus. The outrage escalated so much that the traffic in Delhi was disrupted for about an hour.

Several senior police officers reached the spot and spoke to the pilgrims to pacify them. Police said they will look into the matter and strict legal action will be taken, if anyone is found to be at fault.

After their assurance, the Kanwariyas dispersed and vehicular movement was restored on the GT Road and other adjoining roads, police said.

The Kanwariyas will fetch the holy water again and will reach Seelampur with the help of the Police. The Kanwariyas have to travel by foot for the next 6 days to reach Alwar in Rajasthan by the evening of July 25.

Image source: OpIndia