Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh): Twenty-three people, including five women, have been arrested in connection with a stone-pelting incident during a procession on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti in Kasganj district. Police provided this information.
Police stated that a police constable was also injured in the stone-pelting. According to police, the incident occurred on Tuesday in Chahaka Gunaur village under Sahawar police station area, when a procession (shobha yatra) was passing through the area to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
The District Magistrate said that based on CCTV footage and other evidence, an FIR has been registered against 38 identified individuals. It was stated that 23 of them, including five women, have been arrested. According to police, the incident happened when some people allegedly started throwing stones at the procession, leading to chaos and heightened tension between the two groups.
According to police, during the disturbance, some people blocked the road with tractor-trolleys, disrupting traffic in the vicinity. Officials reported that a police constable was injured after being hit by a stone. The Superintendent of Police had said that on Tuesday, around 50 processions were being taken out in various police station areas of the district and were proceeding peacefully with adequate security arrangements.
It was stated that this incident appears to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt the procession and the matter is under investigation. It was said, “Members of the Yadav community obstructed the procession. The political motive behind this will become clear after the investigation.” Police reported that a heavy police force has been deployed in the village, where peace has prevailed since Tuesday’s incident.
Ambedkar Jayanti
Ambedkar Jayanti is an annual Indian festival celebrated on April 14th to honor the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a revered social reformer who championed the rights of the marginalized. It is not a physical site but a significant cultural and political observance, marked by processions, tributes, and discussions on his teachings, which continue to inspire movements for social justice and equality in India.
Kasganj
Kasganj is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, historically known as a trading and agricultural center. It was established as a *pargana* (administrative unit) during the Mughal era and later developed significantly under British rule in the 19th century, particularly after the arrival of the railway. Today, it remains an important market town for the surrounding region.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India, historically known as the heartland of ancient and medieval Indian civilization. It is home to iconic cultural and religious sites like the Taj Mahal in Agra and the holy cities of Varanasi and Prayagraj, having been a central region for empires such as the Mughals and a focal point of the Indian independence movement.
Chahaka Gunaur village
Chahaka Gunaur is a traditional village located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, primarily inhabited by the indigenous Great Andamanese people. Historically, it represents one of the settlements of a community whose population and cultural practices were severely impacted by colonization and disease following British settlement in the 19th century. Today, it stands as a cultural site reflecting the heritage and resilience of one of the world’s most ancient tribal groups.
Sahawar police station
The Sahawar police station is a local law enforcement facility in the Sahawar town of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is most historically notable as the site where, in 1857, British officers were killed during the Indian Rebellion, an event that marked a significant escalation in the uprising against colonial rule in the region. Today, it serves as a functioning police station, with its historical significance often remembered in local accounts of the rebellion.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891-1956) was a principal architect of the Indian Constitution and a pioneering social reformer who dedicated his life to campaigning against social discrimination and the caste system. Born into a marginalized Dalit community, he became India’s first Law Minister and is revered as a symbol of equality and justice, with his legacy celebrated annually on Ambedkar Jayanti.
shobha yatra
“Shobha Yatra” refers to a grand, festive religious procession, most famously associated with the annual Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival) of Lord Jagannath in Puri, India. It involves the ceremonial journey of deities on lavishly decorated chariots through the streets, allowing public worship. This centuries-old tradition, rooted in Hindu scriptures, symbolizes the Lord’s visit to his devotees and is a major pilgrimage event attracting millions.
Yadav community
The Yadav community is a prominent social group primarily found in India, Nepal, and other regions of South Asia, historically associated with pastoralism and agriculture. Its members traditionally identify as descendants of the ancient Yadu dynasty, a clan featured in Hindu scriptures like the Mahabharata and Puranas, linking them to the deity Krishna. In modern times, the Yadavs have become a significant political and social force, particularly in North Indian states.
