Seven Kanwariyas (Lord Shiva devotees) have been arrested on charges of beating up a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan over an argument over buying train tickets at Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur railway station, police said. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

The incident, captured on CCTV, shows a group of Kanwariyas wearing saffron clothes thrashing a CRPF jawan who was going to catch the Brahmaputra Mail at Mirzapur station. They are seen pinning down the jawan, landing punches and kicks at him as other people look on.

In the video, one of the passengers is seen pulling a Kanwariya from the melee as the others continue to beat the CRPF jawan.

The Railway Protection Force reached the spot on getting information about the incident and filed a case against the Kanwariyas. Following an investigation, seven Kanwariyas were arrested, RPF in-charge inspector Chaman Singh Tomar said.

“Seven Kanwariyas have been arrested in the case of beating up a CRPF jawan,” the official said.

Kanwariyas are participating in the Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage journey of Lord Shiva’s devotees. This involves them walking barefoot, carrying the holy water from Ganga in pitchers (Kanwars) to temples.

The Kanwar Yatra began on July 11 and will end on July 23, coinciding with the Hindu month of Shravan (Sawan).

– Ends

(with inputs from Suresh Kumar Singh)

Tune In