Kanwarias resort to large-scale violence after two accidents

Gurgaon/Bhadoi, Aug 7 (UNI) Kanwarias resorted to protests, large-scale violence and arson and laid a siege to the Delhi-Jaipur Highway as five of them were mowed down by speeding vehicles in two separate incidents in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana today.

Kanwariyas blocked traffic on Delhi-Jaipur Highway and set afire vehicles after two pilgrims were killed and three injured by a truck near Manesar in Haryana this morning.

The 'Kanwariyas' also torched the truck, which mowed down the pilgrims, and also the vehicles of Gurgaon Additional Police Commissioner (South) Kailash Chandra and SHO Bhan Singh.

Kanwarias are Shiv 'bhakts' who undertake a pilgrimage during the holy month of 'Shrawan.' They smashed several other vehicles and broke the window panes of Haryana Roadways buses.

A group of five pilgrims was on way to its village near Alwar, when it was hit by the truck near Manesar. Two of the pilgrims died on the spot while the other three were injured seriously.

Incensed over the incident, angry 'Kanwariyas' blocked the traffic on the highway for more than four hours and indulged in arson.

Police later resorted to a lathicharge to bring the situation under control and opened the highway.

The injured were taken to hospital which referred them to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, where their condition was stated to be critical.

Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon Rakesh Gupta and Gurgaon Police Commissioner Mahender Lal have reached the spot and were trying to pacify the agitated 'Kanwariyas'.

The situation was still stated to be tense there.

In the other incident, three kanwarias were run over by a speeding truck in Badohi district of Uttar Pradesh.

The trio, en route from Allahabad to Varanasi, were crushed under the wheels of the vehicle on national highway, police said.

Irked over the incident, a mob later vandalised a police station, besides torching police jeeps. Almost 12 policemen were wounded after the agitators resorted to stone pelting.

The situation could only be brought under control after police lathicharged, in which several kanwarias were also injured.

Police in strength have been deployed to prevent any fresh violence.

UNI