Kanwariyas thrash transgender and vandalise wine shop in Uttar Pradesh

A video of Kanwariyas beating up the victim in Ghaziabad even as the police try to pacify the crowd has gone viral.

Written by Neetika Jha

Ghaziabad | Updated: July 31, 2024  

Kanwariyas, the devotees of Lord Shiva, undertake a pilgrimage to Uttarakhand’s Gangotri, Gaumukh, and Haridwar, and Sultanganj in Bihar to collect Ganga water during the Hindu month of Shravan. (PTI Photo/ Representational)

A transgender was beaten up and her clothes torn allegedly by a group of Kanwariyas, who suspected she was a thief, in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad in the late hours of Monday.

“We rescued the person from the angry crowd and brought her to the police station. She was not a thief. It was because of some confusion and misunderstanding,” said Ravendra Gautam, Station House Officer, Sihani Gate.

A purported video of the incident being widely shared on social media shows the Kanwariyas beating up the victim even as the police try to pacify the crowd. After the crowd grew more violent, the police and the victim could be seen running towards the police vehicle with the crowd running following them.

In another incident involving Kanwariyas, a group allegedly vandalised a wine shop counter and tore its curtains in the Sahibabad area on Tuesday. “The argument was over closing the wine shop. We are investigating the matter further,” said Rajnish Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sahibabad.

Last Saturday, a few Kanwariyas created a ruckus after a car allegedly hit one of them in the Muradnagar area, blocked the road, thrashed the driver, and vandalised the vehicle alleging that their Kanwar was desecrated.

Kanwariyas, the devotees of Lord Shiva, undertake a pilgrimage to Uttarakhand’s Gangotri, Gaumukh, and Haridwar, and Sultanganj in Bihar to collect Ganga water during the Hindu month of Shravan.

Courtesy:  The  Indian Express

Note: This news was originally published in indianexpress.com and was used only for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, particularly for human rights.