A Ganesh idol immersion procession came under a violent attack in Kanpur’s Gujaini police station area on Thursday, as assailants opened fire, hurled crude bombs and later beat devotees with sticks and axes, leaving four people injured, including a woman, according to local reports.
The procession was passing near Fattepur village, under the Gujaini police station limits, when it was reportedly surrounded by around two to three dozen people. According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers first opened fire and threw indigenous bombs — locally referred to as “daimar” — triggering a stampede among devotees participating in the procession.
Once the crowd scattered in panic, some of the assailants allegedly followed up with sticks (lathi-danda) and axes, beating devotees who had been part of the immersion yatra. Several motorcycles belonging to participants were also vandalized during the melee.
Police say the attack stemmed from an old personal rivalry rather than any communal or religious motive, with the procession apparently targeted to disrupt the atmosphere.
Police Action
Gujaini police station in-charge Rajan Sharma said the case has been registered under serious sections, including attempted murder. The sister of one of the injured victims filed a complaint naming six individuals along with 10–15 unidentified persons.
One accused, identified as Rahul Bhadauria, has been arrested. Police say raids are underway to track down the remaining suspects.
Investigators are working to establish the full chain of events and identify all those involved. Authorities have not indicated any broader law-and-order concern beyond the specific rivalry cited as the motive, though the incident has drawn attention given how quickly the violence escalated — from gunfire and bombs to a stampede and then physical assault — during what was otherwise a religious procession.