New Delhi: Tension flared in Delhi’s Shahdara area after shards of broken glass were discovered strewn along a key route of the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, prompting allegations of sabotage and triggering a police investigation.
BJP MLA Sanjay Goyal raised the alarm, claiming that sharp glass pieces were deliberately scattered over nearly a one-kilometre stretch of the sacred path used by barefoot kanwariyas. “This poses a serious danger to the devotees walking barefoot,” he warned, after surveying the route for two consecutive days.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra echoed the concern, asserting that the act appeared to be a deliberate attempt to disrupt the religious pilgrimage. “Some mischievous elements have scattered glass shards along the Kanwar Yatra route. CM Rekha Gupta has taken serious note. PWD and municipal teams are working on clearing the stretch,” Mishra posted on X (formerly Twitter).
It came to notice yesternight that large amount of shrads of broken glass had been strewn on a stretch of about one km road in Dilshad Garden, on the route of Kaanwar Yatris, who walk barefoot.
Instructed Police to reach the spot & directed PWD to immediately take corrective… pic.twitter.com/i68yFDW3ov
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) July 13, 2025
Following complaints from BJP leaders and the Public Works Department, Delhi Police has launched a probe into the incident. Cleanup operations are underway with teams from the PWD and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) deployed to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. However, officials acknowledged that some shards are still visible, despite the ongoing efforts.
The Kanwar Yatra, which began on Friday, attracts lakhs of saffron-clad devotees from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and neighbouring states. Pilgrims collect holy Ganga water from Haridwar and perform jalabhishek at Shiva temples during the holy month of Shravan.
This year, authorities expect a record turnout of 6–7 crore kanwariyas, significantly higher than last year’s estimated 4 crore. Accordingly, security and traffic arrangements across the national capital have been tightened.
Ahead of the Yatra, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired a high-level review meeting, highlighting the rising enthusiasm among devotees. The government has received a record 374 applications for setting up Kanwar camps — more than double the number from last year — marking an unprecedented scale of participation in the annual spiritual journey.
Police are now treating the glass-scattering incident as a potential act of mischief aimed at disrupting religious harmony, and say all angles are being probed.
