‘Who gives you the right?’: Dhaba workers on Kanwar routes told to remove trousers during ‘identity drive’; cops question vigilantes’ acts | Agra News

AGRA: UP police have issued notices to at least six supporters of an ashram head for allegedly carrying out an unauthorised “drive” to ascertain the identity and faith of dhaba workers along the kanwar yatra route in Muzaffarnagar a few days ago. The group allegedly demanded Aadhaar cards and details of caste, religion, and addresses from staff and owners at Pandit Ji Shudh Vaishno Dhaba on NH-58, and tried to forcibly remove a worker’s trousers to verify his religion. The vigilantes, supporters of self-styled seer Swami Yashveer Maharaj, run an initiative named ‘Pehchan Abhiyan (identification campaign)’, claiming several food outlets on the kanwar route use Hindu names despite being operated by people from other communities, which could mislead pilgrims.In notices issued from New Mandi police station for disturbing public peace and conducting illegal checks without govt authorisation, police said: “Under which rule and authority did you check the hotels and dhabas, ask objectionable questions, and try to disturb the peace in the area? You are directed to appear within three days of receiving this notice and explain in writing why legal action should not be taken against you.”

SHO Dinesh Chand said more individuals are being identified. Maharaj denied the allegation that anyone forcibly removed any employee’s trousers. But he said, “We warned this dhaba to change its name within 24 hours or face protests starting Thursday morning. This is not a Hindu-run establishment and is misusing the name ‘Pandit’.” He cited state govt directives requiring eateries to display the owner’s name, warning of legal action under Section 420 for misrepresentation.In a related development, police separately registered a case against five people, including the dhaba’s owners, after Dharmender Sharma, a manager associated with Yashveer, alleged he was assaulted on Sunday night. Police said an FIR was filed under relevant sections, including BNS Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt). Police said investigations into both incidents are ongoing. Muzaffarnagar is a critical stop on the kanwar route for lakhs of devotees from UP, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Haryana who collect Ganga water from Haridwar during Shravan month.This came even as Meerut district administration directed “every shop along the kanwar route to display QR codes, allowing pilgrims to instantly verify vendor details”.