Record 13 lakh bookings for Chardham Pilgrimage in eight days
The State Tourism Department called it a sign of record breaking flow of pilgrims to the four shrines as the pilgrimage season is scheduled to start on May 10.
Taking note of news reports, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat directed Rudraprayag district administration to conduct probe into an incident of policemen assaulting some tourists in Kedarnath recently.
The incident came to light on Thursday when a tourist accused the local police of misbehaving with pilgrims and a video connected to the incident went viral on social media.
In the video clip, a tourist accused the police of unruly behaviour. He alleged that the cops dragged his daughter out by pulling her hair when he was offering prayers in the temple. In the process the girl sustained injury on leg. A boy and two other pilgrims were similarly treated.
Advertisement
The CM asked the District Magistrate Mangesh Ghildiyal to conduct a free and fair probe into the incident.
The Rudraprayag District Magistrate has asked joint magistrate and CO Kedarnath to conduct the investigation. The video of the pilgrim, shared on social media, and footage of CCTV cameras installed in and around the shrine will be scanned.
Police claims that the pilgrim from Madhya Pradesh was taking too much time inside the shrine. The cops asked him to finish his prayers and make ways for others. He was brought out of the Kedarnath temple and informed about the prescribed norms for each pilgrim.
The police claim that leg of the girl was injured long before the argument took place. CCTV footage will provide clear insight of the incident.
Thousands of devotees visit Kedarnath shrine in Rudraprayag district annually to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.
Advertisement
