A minor incident escalated into public unrest on Monday evening in Purkazi, a town in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, after a man was accused of spitting on a kanwar — a sacred object carried by devotees during the Kanwar Yatra.

The alleged act involved a woman pilgrim from Delhi, Muskan, who had halted for a break while travelling back from Haridwar on foot. She was part of a group of devotees, carrying 31 litres of holy water from the Ganga River, while her brother Anshul Sharma bore a 101-litre kanwar. It was during this pause that the man, identified as Usman, reportedly spat on her kanwar, sparking strong reactions from nearby pilgrims.

The police moved in swiftly to prevent further escalation. “A case has been registered against Usman, who was immediately taken into custody,” confirmed Additional Superintendent of Police (City), Satyanarayan Prajapat. A large group of agitated pilgrims had assembled following the incident, but law enforcement worked on the ground for several hours to restore peace.

“Accused Usman Facing Multiple Disabilities”: Family

According to the family of the accused, Usman suffers from multiple disabilities. They stated that he is both deaf and mute and has a history of mental illness. Police have acknowledged these claims and confirmed that an official inquiry is underway to determine all aspects of the case.

In order to allow Muskan to continue her journey uninterrupted, authorities arranged for a replacement kanwar to be brought from Haridwar. “The woman pilgrim was provided with a new ‘kanwar’ brought from Haridwar to resume her yatra,” said Prajapat, adding that maintaining peace during the Kanwar Yatra is a top priority.

In a separate but related update, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath conducted an aerial review of the Kanwar Yatra preparations earlier on the same day. Covering the route from Ghaziabad to Bijnor, the chief minister assessed the ground arrangements and issued firm instructions to officials.

He emphasised the importance of a safe and respectful environment for pilgrims, instructing authorities to be vigilant and proactive. “The environment of the yatra must remain peaceful and well-organised at all times,” the Chief Minister said. Highlighting a zero-tolerance approach, he added, “Those involved in such actions must face the strictest punishment so that the sacred nature of the Kanwar Yatra is not compromised.”

Yogi Adityanath also called for optimal facilities for pilgrims, including sanitation, drinking water, tents, and lighting. He encouraged the involvement of voluntary groups and NGOs to support these efforts and ensure the event proceeds smoothly.

The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage in which Lord Shiva devotees, known as Kanwariyas, collect water from the Ganges and carry it over long distances to offer at Shiva temples. Given the scale of participation each year, authorities maintain high security and infrastructure standards throughout the event.