DELHI NEWS : Delhi Police have filed an FIR after pieces of broken glass were discovered along the Kanwar Yatra route in Shahdara’s Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) area and Jhilmil Colony, raising safety concerns for the devotees walking barefoot. Authorities confirmed on Sunday that CCTV footage is being analyzed to determine whether the glass resulted from an accident or was deliberately scattered by miscreants. The FIR was lodged at the Seemapuri police station, and an investigation is in progress.
The issue came to light when Delhi Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra flagged it on social media Saturday, alleging that some miscreants had strewn glass fragments across nearly a kilometre of the yatra path. He assured swift action, stating that those responsible would not be spared and would face strict legal measures.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mishra wrote: “Some troublemakers have spread broken glass across about a kilometre of the Kanwar Yatra route in Shahdara. PWD and municipal staff are on the ground clearing the way. Local MLA Sanjay Goyal is present at the site, and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has also taken note of the situation.” He firmly added that any attempt to disrupt the yatra would not be tolerated and confirmed that an FIR has been filed against unknown individuals.
Following the incident, police presence was strengthened around key locations, including roads under flyovers and near Kanwar camps, to ensure the safety of the pilgrims and to avert any further disruptions.
Pilgrims Praise Arrangements, Say Situation Under Control
Despite the scare, many Kanwariyas resting in nearby camps expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. They acknowledged spotting some glass shards but confirmed that cleanup efforts were swift and ongoing. Raman, a devotee, shared, “Everything is well managed. We saw some glass on the road, but it was being cleaned even late at night.” Another pilgrim, Aman, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “A few shards were there, but we saw people working to clean it up. I’ve seen several Kanwar camps already in place, and more are being set up. So far, no issues at all.”