Protest at Deoband eatery over sale of non-vegetarian food during Kanwar period
Deoband, Saharanpur — Members of the Bajrang Dal objected on Monday to the sale of chicken biryani at a restaurant in Deoband, alleging the outlet was violating restrictions placed on non-vegetarian food along designated Kanwar pilgrimage routes during the Hindu month of Sawan, a video circulating on social media showed.
The footage, shared widely on Monday, shows Bajrang Dal activists identified as Ajay Prajapati and Rudra Mishra at a restaurant identified in the video as Hyderabad Chicken Point, accompanied by police personnel who were seen inspecting the premises. In the clip, a Bajrang Dal member alleged that the restaurant was openly advertising and selling chicken despite administrative directions restricting the sale of meat, chicken, fish and other non-vegetarian items along routes used by Kanwariyas.
- Activists say restrictions aim to respect pilgrims and maintain order along Kanwar routes during Sawan.
- Authorities have warned traders and eateries that violations could invite action under applicable rules.
- The Deoband episode follows similar enforcement actions reported from Bareilly district.
Officials in Saharanpur maintain that temporary restrictions had been imposed along certain routes to regulate activity during the pilgrimage period. The measures were described as administrative directions intended to ensure smooth passage of devotees and to prevent disturbances along the designated corridors used by Kanwariyas.
“Traders have been informed about restrictions on the sale of non-vegetarian food along major pilgrimage routes during Sawan,” said a Bahedi Circle Officer in a similar case cited from Bareilly.
The incident in Deoband comes amid a spate of reports across the state where authorities acted against establishments accused of selling non-vegetarian food along Kanwar routes. MuslimMirror reported a separate episode in Bareilly district where police detained two shopkeepers, named as Salman and Raees, after their shop near the old Roadways bus stand in Bahedi was allegedly found selling chicken biryani despite prior warnings. Local officials said a JCB was used to remove the shop’s tin shed and counter, and further inspections led to detentions at other establishments.
State and district administrations say such restrictions are temporary and route-specific. They emphasise that the measures are not aimed at kitchen or restaurant operations outside the defined corridors but at regulating commercial activity that could obstruct pilgrims or cause law-and-order concerns on the pilgrimage routes.
| Location | Incident | Action reported |
|---|---|---|
| Deoband, Saharanpur | Bajrang Dal objections to sale of chicken at Hyderabad Chicken Point | Police inspection of premises (video shows activists and officers) |
| Bareilly (Bahedi) | Shop allegedly selling chicken biryani near bus stand | Two shopkeepers detained; tin shed and counter reportedly removed |
Local civic bodies and the police generally issue route maps and advisories ahead of the Kanwar season, identifying stretches where additional restrictions apply. These advisories are circulated to traders’ associations and local residents, officials said in other reports, and are periodically enforced to prevent obstruction or communal friction during the movement of devotees.
Civic administration in Saharanpur did not issue a public statement on the Deoband video at the time the report was published. Law-enforcement agencies routinely state that any action against traders is carried out according to directives and rules applicable to public order and pilgrimage management.
For Saharanpur residents, the episode highlights the tensions that can arise between religious observance, local commerce and enforcement. Authorities say clarity on route boundaries and advance communication with businesses are crucial to avoid confrontations during high-footfall events such as the Sawan Kanwar pilgrimage.
Reporting for this item drew on an account published by MuslimMirror that described the Deoband incident and the contemporaneous action in Bareilly.
