Four detained in UP's Bareilly as police raid shops selling non-veg food on Kanwar Yatra route

According to the Hindustan Times, authorities in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, have detained four individuals following raids on shops selling non-vegetarian food along the designated route of the Kanwar Yatra. The enforcement action follows a directive issued by local officials, which prohibited the sale of meat, chicken, fish, and other non-vegetarian items along the paths frequented by Kanwariyas during the annual pilgrimage.

The Kanwar Yatra is a significant annual event in India, during which devotees of Lord Shiva, known as Kanwariyas, travel long distances to collect holy water from the Ganges River. In recent years, local administrations in several North Indian states have implemented temporary restrictions on the sale of meat and alcohol along these routes, citing the need to maintain public order and respect the religious sentiments of the pilgrims.

Local police confirmed that the raids were conducted to ensure compliance with the administrative orders. The detention of the shopkeepers highlights the ongoing tension between local regulatory enforcement and the commercial activities of traders in the region during the pilgrimage period. Authorities have indicated that monitoring of the routes will continue throughout the duration of the Yatra to prevent further violations of the issued directives.