U.P. estimates 60 million devotees will take part in Kanwar Yatra
The state said it is implementing a women-centric security model by deploying over 10,000 women police personnel along the Yatra route. Female constables have also been made a mandatory part of Quick Response Teams (QRTs), including during night shifts. QRT patrolling has been intensified along key routes, and female officers are now monitoring special 24x7 control rooms and helplines across zones.
'In a first, over 10,000 women police personnel including 8,541 head constables and 1,486 sub-inspectors — have been deployed along the Yatra route, forming nearly 15 percent of the total force on the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Around six crore devotees, including an estimated 60–70 lakh women, are expected to take part in the Yatra. In response, CM Yogi ordered the implementation of a women-centric security model,' reads a statement issued by the state government.
Women's help desk
To support women pilgrims' female constables will be stationed at all women's help desks to assist and counsel devotees in sensitive situations. 'Additionally, Shakti Help Booths, in collaboration with women's voluntary organisations, are being set up in several districts to support women pilgrims further,' the state government statement added.
In Meerut zone, the epicenter of the Kanwar Yatra in U.P., over 100 helpdesks for women have been established to offer real-time assistance along with technological surveillance through drones, CCTVs, and social media monitoring. The state government added the initiative reflects its commitment to creating an environment where people primarily women can participate in religious and cultural events freely and fearlessly.
Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage journey of Lord Shiva's devotees started on July 11 and will end on July 23.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
United News of India
2 hours ago
- United News of India
SC seeks UP, Uttarakhand reply on plea against QR code mandate for food sellers during Kanwar Yatra
New Delhi, July 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today granted one week's time to the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to file their responses on a plea challenging the government directive mandating food sellers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR code stickers revealing owners' details. A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice N Kotiswar Singh posted the matter for next Tuesday after noting that the yatra will conclude within 10 to 12 days. During the hearing, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand sought two weeks to file their replies. Deputy advocate general Jatinder Kumar Sethi appeared for the states. Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the applicants, however, pressed for urgent hearing citing the time-sensitive nature of the issue. Senior advocates Chander Uday Singh and Huzefa Ahmadi appeared for other petitioners in the matter. The application seeks a stay on all directives requiring or facilitating public disclosure of ownership or employee identity of food vendors along the Kanwar Yatra routes in both states. It argues that the directions violate an interim order passed by the Supreme Court last year, which held that sellers cannot be forced to disclose their identities. Applicants Professor Apoorvanand and activist Aakar Patel have alleged that this year's QR code mandate circumvents the earlier court order and results in the disclosure of owners' names and identities, leading to religious profiling. They contended that such directions have no backing of law and are aimed at creating religious polarisation and discrimination. The bench has posted the matter for hearing next week. UNI SNG PRS
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Why Pushkar Dhami ordered ‘Operation Kaalnemi' during Kanwar Yatra
As the Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of Shiva devotees, picks momentum, the Uttarakhand government has started a first-of-its-kind 'Operation Kaalnemi' to take action against imposters defrauding people in the name of Sanatan earlier this week on the orders of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the operation mainly targets the plains districts of Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. In just a few days, the police have detained over 220 'fake' this week, Dhami announced he has given instructions to officers to start Operation Kaalnemi. 'Many cases have come to light in the state wherein anti-social elements are cheating people, especially women, by disguising themselves as saints and sages. This is not only hurting the religious sentiments of people but also harming the image of social harmony and Sanatan tradition. In such a situation, if a person of any religion is found doing such acts, strict action will be taken,' Dhami posted on Kaalnemi draws its name from Kaalnemi, a demon in the Ramayana known for deceit. According to the epic, when Lakshman was wounded in battle, Lord Hanuman was sent to bring the life-restoring Sanjeevani herb. Ravan, desperate to stop him, summoned Kaalnemi to mislead Lord Hanuman. Disguised as a sage, Kaalnemi set up an ashram along Hanuman's path, hoping to trick him. But Lord Hanuman saw through the disguise and killed Kaalnemi before continuing on his mission. 'Just as the demon Kaalnemi tried to mislead people by disguising himself as a saint, similarly, many Kaalnemi are active in society, who are committing crimes by disguising themselves as religious people. Our government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, the dignity of Sanatan culture and maintaining social harmony. Those who spread hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared under any circumstances,' said to data shared by the Uttarakhand police, 52 such imposters have been caught so far in Haridwar. In Udham Singh Nagar, police said, several people were posing as 'Peer Fakir Baba' and preying on the poor and distressed. Police there have detained 66 such Dehradun, police have arrested 111 people over the past four days. 'The police are also keeping a close watch on people of a particular religion who cheat innocent people in the name of exorcism by showing fear of witchcraft, divine wrath, etc. Imposters coming from West Bengal, Bihar and other states are playing with the religious sentiments of the common people. The impostor may belong to any religion. If involved in such activities, action will be taken,' the Dehradun police said in a year, during the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand police had ordered all eateries and shops to display their names clearly—a move that drew criticism for being seen to identify Muslim-owned establishments. Many believe Operation Kaalnemi resembles that earlier effort in the sense that it too targets a specific concern linked to faith during the the stated aim this time is to act against religious imposters, the pattern of special measures during the Kanwar Yatra suggests a recurring anxiety about those seen as outsiders within the larger religious the number of arrests under Operation Kaalnemi rises, Dhami has warned that 'all those living as impostors should either reveal their true identities or be prepared for strict action'. He has also appealed to the public to help identify suspected to India Today Magazine- Ends
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Supreme Court seeks UP reply on QR code order for Kanwar Yatra route eateries
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh government on a plea challenging the state's directive mandating the display of QR codes on all eateries along the 'Kanwar Yatra' route, which reveal the names and identities of the owners.A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh issued a notice to the state government and posted the plea filed by academician Apoorvanand Jha and others on July top court had last year stayed similar directives issued by BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, asking eateries along the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names of their owners, staff and other details. Referring to a press release issued by the UP administration on June 25, Jha said, "The new measures mandate the display of QR codes on all eateries along the Kanwar route, which reveal the names and identities of the owners, thereby achieving the same discriminatory profiling that was previously stayed by this court."The petition said the state government's directive asking stall owners to reveal religious and caste identities under "lawful licence requirements" breaches the right to privacy of the shop, dhaba, and restaurant devotees travel from various places with 'kanwars' carrying holy water from the Ganga to perform the 'jalabhishek' of Shivlings during the Hindu calendar month of 'Shravan'.Many believers shun consumption of meat during the month. Many don't even consume meals containing onions and garlic.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Uttar Pradesh#Supreme Court
