Tension flared up in Bareilly’s Baradari area, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday when a group of kanwariyas claimed they were targeted with stones. The incident, which began with a dispute over “some object,” escalated as both sides engaged in stone pelting.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Bareilly) Prabhakar Chaudhary stated that after analyzing videos of the incident, it became evident that stones were thrown from both groups. To maintain control, additional police forces were deployed to the area. The police are currently reviewing video footage and CCTV recordings to identify the culprits, ensuring strict action against those responsible.
While police sources reported three injuries resulting from the stone-pelting, the SSP mentioned that there was no confirmed information about injuries at the time.
According to the police, the incident occurred when a procession of kanwariyas passed near a mosque in Joginavada locality. A disagreement arose, leading to stone-pelting both at the kanwariyas and the police present at the scene. The situation was eventually brought under control when additional police forces arrived.
In response to the incident, the kanwariyas staged a protest, demanding the registration of an FIR and the arrest of the perpetrators. An FIR has been filed at Baradari Police Station, and a few individuals have been detained for questioning, as confirmed by Inspector General (Bareilly Range) Rakesh Singh.
The kanwariyas have accused a former corporator from the area of being behind the attack.
Additional District Magistrate (Bareilly City) RD Pandey assured that the situation has returned to normal, with extra police forces deployed in the area to maintain peace.
In light of the incident, Uttar Pradesh minister Arun Kumar, who is also the MLA from Bareilly, condemned the actions of undesirable elements attempting to create tension in the state. He emphasized the need for an impartial investigation, ensuring strict punishment for those found guilty.
