Case Filed After Glass Pieces Found on Kanwar Yatra Route in Delhi’s Seemapuri
Case Filed After Glass Pieces Found on Kanwar Yatra Route in Delhi’s Seemapuri
New Delhi, July 14 – In a disturbing incident that has raised concerns over the safety of Kanwar Yatra pilgrims, glass shards were found scattered across a nearly one-kilometre stretch of the Kanwar Yatra route in northeast Delhi’s Seemapuri area. Delhi Police have registered a case against unknown individuals for allegedly attempting to injure barefoot Kanwariyas and outrage their religious sentiments.
It came to notice yesternight that large amount of shrads of broken glass had been strewn on a stretch of about one km road in Dilshad Garden, on the route of Kaanwar Yatris, who walk barefoot.
Instructed Police to reach the spot & directed PWD to immediately take corrective… pic.twitter.com/i68yFDW3ov
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) July 13, 2025
The complaint, filed by a junior engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), claimed that the sharp glass pieces appeared to have been intentionally placed along the route, potentially putting the lives of hundreds of Shiva devotees at risk.
FIR Registered Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Following the engineer’s complaint, the Delhi Police registered a case under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
- Section 125: Endangering human life or personal safety
- Section 299: Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings
Officials emphasized that this was not an isolated act of negligence. The widespread presence of glass across the route points to a deliberate attempt to cause harm, especially since Kanwariyas traditionally walk barefoot during their pilgrimage to Haridwar, carrying holy Ganga water to offer at Lord Shiva temples.
Ministerial and Administrative Response
Delhi minister Kapil Mishra raised the alarm about the incident on X (formerly Twitter), stating that anti-social elements may be behind the act.
दिल्ली के शाहदरा में कुछ शरारती तत्वों में कंवर यात्रा के मार्ग पर कांच के टुकड़े लगभग एक किलोमीटर तक के मार्ग पर बिखेर दिए
PWD और निगम के कर्मचारी मार्ग को साफ कर रहें हैं
स्थानीय विधायक संजय गोयल जी वहां मौजूद हैं
CM @gupta_rekha जी ने स्वयं घटना का संज्ञान लिया है
PWD…
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) July 12, 2025
“In Delhi’s Shahdara, some mischievous elements scattered glass shards along the Kanwar Yatra route for nearly a kilometre… CM @gupta_rekha ji has personally taken cognisance of the incident. An FIR will be filed,” Mishra tweeted.
Mishra assured that PWD and municipal workers had been deployed to clean the affected stretch and that no disruption in the Kanwar Yatra would be tolerated. He further added that law enforcement would take strict action against the culprits.
Local MLA Confirms Repeated Incidents
BJP MLA from Shahdara, Sanjay Goyal, who reached the site to supervise the clean-up operations, claimed that this was not the first instance of such mischief on the Kanwar route.
“On Friday, I got the glass removed assuming it came from a broken vehicle window. But it happened again on Saturday. This was clearly done on purpose,” Goyal told reporters.
He reiterated that efforts to hurt religious sentiments and jeopardize public safety would not be tolerated.
PWD and Civic Action
According to a PWD official, the junior engineer alerted the department about the hazardous material scattered along the yatra path. The department mobilized workers late into the night to ensure the area was cleaned thoroughly before pilgrims resumed their journey.
“The glass was found spread over a large area, almost a kilometre. If it were from a vehicle window, it wouldn’t have covered that distance. It looked intentional,” the official noted.
Authorities have since intensified patrolling and surveillance, especially along key stretches of the yatra route in northeast Delhi.
Police Investigation Underway
Delhi Police confirmed that they were reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding areas in Seemapuri and Shahdara to identify those responsible. So far, no arrests have been made, but officials believe the evidence suggests planned sabotage.
Senior police officers have promised swift action and appealed to the public to report any suspicious activities or similar attempts to obstruct religious processions.