Two Young Men Caught Wearing Sheikh Attire at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar: Police Investigate

Haridwar, Uttarakhand: In a shocking incident at Har Ki Pauri, the main bathing ghat of the Ganga in Haridwar, two young men were caught wandering in Sheikh attire (kandura), a video of which went viral on social media. Police investigations have confirmed that both individuals are residents of Haridwar.

The accused, identified as Naveen Kumar and Prince, both 22 years old, were taken into custody for questioning. During interrogation, the duo admitted that they had dressed in the attire to shoot a video for their YouTube channel, hoping to gain more likes and comments.

A police officer stated that the youths expressed regret for hurting religious sentiments and apologized for their actions. They were cautioned against creating similar content in the future. After issuing a notice (chalan), the police released them. Authorities also said they are identifying individuals who circulated partial or edited versions of the video online, and legal action will be taken against them as well.

Stir in the Pilgrim Area

The incident caused a stir in the Haridwar Kumbh Mela area, where there have been ongoing demands to restrict the entry of non-Hindus to certain ghats. Priests at Malviya Ghat and surrounding areas confronted the young men when they were seen in kandura. The youths initially claimed to be residents of Dubai, using the names Habibullah and Habibi.

Argument with Priests

When questioned further, the men admitted that they were social media influencers filming content for YouTube. When asked to leave, they argued that they had the right to move freely anywhere in India, leading to a heated debate with the priests.

The incident was reported to the Ganga Sabha, which in turn informed the police. However, the two men had already left the site before authorities arrived.

The case underscores the tension between religious sentiments and social media content creation, highlighting the need for sensitivity in pilgrimage areas like Har Ki Pauri.