Six injured in violent clash between Kanwariya groups
Our Correspondent
Gurugram, August 2
Panic gripped Prem Nagar Colony near Sector 12 on Friday when a violent clash broke out between two groups of Dak Kanwariyas over a five-day-old dispute regarding a music system. In the clash, at least six Kanwariyas were injured. Three of the injured are being treated at a hospital, while the other three returned home after receiving first aid.
Both groups of Kanwariyasclashed with sticks and threw stones, resulting in the damage of two vehicles. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, which clearly showed the miscreants pelting stones and vandalising the vehicles. Upon receiving information, a heavy police force arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.
The dispute began on July 27 when two groups of Kanwariyas, one from Rajiv Nagar and the other from Prem Nagar’s slum area, were preparing to bring Dak Kanwar. During this time, one group proposed a competition between the music systems installed on each group’s vehicle. However, the other group declined the competition. An altercation ensued, but those present managed to calm the situation that day. One group, however, threatened the other, vowing to settle the matter later. Around 8.30 am on Friday, the clash erupted.
The conflict occurred when one group, along with their families, was returning after offering water at the temple. Members of the other group attacked them with sticks and stones. The miscreants reached their homes, and during the stone-pelting, many people were injured, and the miscreants also vandalised vehicles parked in the area.
“The attackers were from the slum located opposite Raj Cinema, and they were even carrying swords. They threatened us when we were on our way to take Kanwar from Haridwar, all over a dispute about a music system. They first attacked my brother Rohtash outside his house and vandalised his Scorpio. The main accused is Sagar, a resident of the slum,” said Deepak, a member of the Kanwar group.
After receiving the information, the police reached the spot and turned the area into a police cantonment. ACP Surender Phogat said after both groups brought Dak Kanwar and performed Jalabhishek, one group attacked the other with sticks, rods and stones. About six persons were injured. “The CCTV footage of the incident has also been reviewed, and we are examining the footage. Action will be taken against the accused,” said ACP Phogat.
