Two Held in Hapur After Truck Driver Dies Following Kanwar Yatra Clash
Police have arrested two men after a Muslim truck driver died days after allegedly being attacked following a road accident involving Kanwariyas.
Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district have arrested two men in connection with the death of a Muslim truck driver who was allegedly assaulted after a road accident during the Kanwar Yatra.
Azeem Ali, a truck driver from Moradabad, was involved in a collision with an autorickshaw carrying Kanwariyas in Garhmukhteshwar on July 31. The accident reportedly also injured a man identified as Farman, who was nearby at the time.
Following the collision, a group of men allegedly attacked Ali. A video shared on social media appears to show the assault taking place while a police officer was present.
Ali was initially admitted to a hospital in Meerut after the incident. As his condition deteriorated, he was moved to a hospital in Delhi, where he reportedly fell into a coma. He died on August 4.
Hapur Police arrested Lokesh and Shivam on Thursday in connection with the case.
An FIR names seven accused persons, including Lokesh, Shivam, Ankit, Farman, Manish and two unidentified individuals. The charges include provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to murder, rioting and voluntarily causing hurt.
The complaint was filed by Ali’s father, Mohd Intezar. He alleged that Farman and others assaulted his son and left him critically injured.
A separate complaint has also been filed by Farman’s father. He has alleged that Ali hit his son with the truck. Based on this complaint, police registered a case against Ali for attempted murder.
Farman reportedly suffered serious injuries and was receiving medical treatment. Police are investigating the two cases separately as they examine the circumstances surrounding the accident, the alleged assault and Ali’s subsequent death.
The incident occurred during the annual Kanwar Yatra, which began on July 30 and concluded on August 11. During the pilgrimage, Kanwariyas travel to collect water from the Ganga in Haridwar and carry it back to their hometowns for religious offerings.