Muslim man forced to touch Hindu pilgrims’ feet in India
Police watched as Muslim motorcyclist was made to apologize and touch feet of Kanwar pilgrims, renewing concerns over vigilantism surrounding annual Hindu pilgrimage
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim man in northern India was forced to touch the feet of Hindu pilgrims and apologize after entering a road designated for a major religious procession, with police officers present as the public humiliation unfolded.
The 35-year-old motorcyclist was surrounded by Kanwariyas (Hindu pilgrims) in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh after entering a route reserved for the Kanwar Yatra, an annual Hindu pilgrimage. Video of the incident shows the man bending down and touching the feet of people surrounding him while police personnel stand nearby.
Police rejected claims circulating online that the confrontation began after the man damaged a Kanwar, a decorated structure used by pilgrims to carry containers of water from the Ganges River. Chamarua police outpost chief Atish Jain said no Kanwar had been damaged.
Instead, police said the confrontation began when the Muslim man rode his motorcycle onto the designated pilgrimage route. Kanwariyas then demanded that he apologize before he was allowed to leave.
No case was registered against either side, with police saying the dispute had been resolved at the scene.
The Kanwar Yatra draws millions of devotees of the Hindu god Shiva across northern India each year. Pilgrims, known as Kanwariyas, collect water from the Ganges and carry it — often over long distances on foot — to Shiva temples.
This pilgrimage has increasingly been accompanied by incidents of violence and vigilantism involving groups of Kanwariyas, particularly following road disputes or allegations that vehicles have touched or damaged their Kanwars.
During the 2026 pilgrimage season, a group of Kanwariyas in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district vandalized a pickup truck after it allegedly brushed against a Kanwar.
Previous pilgrimage seasons have also seen attacks on motorists, buses, restaurants and even police personnel. In 2025, Uttar Pradesh police imposed restrictions on pilgrims carrying tridents, hockey sticks and similar objects following a series of violent incidents.
The latest incident has drawn particular concern because police were present while the Muslim man was compelled to perform an act of submission rather than being allowed to resolve the dispute through normal legal procedures.
Touching another person’s feet is traditionally a gesture of deep respect or submission in India, making forcing someone to do so publicly potentially humiliating.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
