Kanwariyas torch truck as 20 hurt in UP mishap

Lucknow: Kanwariyas moving on the Badaun-Bareilly highway in Uttar Pradesh went on the rampage and set on fire a truck which allegedly triggered a road accident in which 20 devotees were injured. Several other vehicles were also vandalised, police said.

Twenty Kanwariyas were injured on Friday when a tempo they were travelling in fell into a ditch after being hit by the truck in Binawar area in Badaun district. The incident took place around 4 am when the devotees were returning home after the culmination of their pilgrimage, police said.

The injured were admitted to hospital, where their condition is said to be stable. Soon after the accident, the enraged Kanwariyas went on the rampage and set the truck involved in the accident on fire, blaming its driver for causing the mishap. The agitating Kanwariyas also damaged several other vehicles plying on the route, forcing police to rush additional forces to control the situation.

Meanwhile, Buland-shahr police on Friday arrested six alleged kanwariyas, including the main accused Pappu, in connection of the attack on a police van. Bulandshahr SSP Krishna B. Singh claimed that six men had reportedly disguised themselves as kanwariyas to settle scores with a man identified as Dipu., with whom they had a dispute.

They first abusing Dipu and then assaulted him on Wednesday. When the police reached the spot , the men brutally attacked the policemen and smashed their official vehicle.