Ghaziabad: A disturbing video surfaced on social media on July 13 reportedly showing a group of kanwariyas thrashing a bus driver inside a bus in Ghaziabad.
The driver, visibly frightened, is seen folding his hands and pleading as a mob of young men repeatedly strike him. An elderly man who attempted to intervene, was also manhandled.
The video, shared by an X user, claims the assault occurred after the bus allegedly brushed against a Kanwar, the sacred bamboo structure carried by devotees, while navigating through a congested stretch of road.
"Either the UP government should issue lockdown orders for general public or stop public transport on the Kanwar route. Why put lives in danger?" the user wrote.
As of now, the UP police have not issued any statement on this specific incident.
As of now, police have not issued any statement on this specific incident.
Second Incident in Ghaziabad in a Week
This is not the first such episode reported during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra. Just days earlier, on Tuesday night, Kanwariyas allegedly vandalised a car and assaulted its driver in Ghaziabad’s Modinagar.
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Gyan Prakash Rai, the pilgrims were returning from Haridwar to Haryana when they claimed the Swift car had brushed past one of them. The group reportedly damaged the vehicle and beat up the 30-year-old driver, Rajiv Sharma.
Police quickly intervened and rescued Sharma, who was later found to be under the influence of alcohol. A medical test confirmed this, and he was booked under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The Kanwariyas were allowed to continue their journey.
Kanwar Yatra and Route Diversions in Ghaziabad
The annual Kanwar Yatra has led to large-scale traffic diversions across Ghaziabad. The pilgrimage, spanning July 11 to 24, brings thousands of devotees on foot and in vehicles.
Authorities have restricted heavy vehicle movement on key routes including the Delhi-Meerut Road and Delhi-Meerut Expressway, with further restrictions for light vehicles starting July 17.
Police say deployments are in place to ensure the yatra remains peaceful.
