Prayagraj: Uttar Pradesh Police arrested 22 people on charges of breach of peace during a Muharram procession in Prayagraj.
A case has been registered against over 40 people, of whom 18 are on the run, India Today reported.
The procession, which was taken out on Thursday at around 8 pm in the Sirsa market area of Yamunanagar zone, led to tension between two groups.
Local residents alleged that organisers of the procession deviated from the traditional route by going through Sirsa market, a Hindu-dominated area.
A group of shopkeepers, led by trade leader Bhagwan Kesari, objected to the unauthorised event, and questioned why the traditional route was not followed.
The two groups engaged in a heated argument. The situation was brought under control after a team from Meja police station arrived at the scene and pacified both sides.
Meja police registered a case against five identified individuals and several unidentified people, The Indian Express reported.
“Prior permission is required to take a procession along a new route. In this case, no such permission was obtained from the district administration before the procession passed through the new route, said S P Upadhyay, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj.
