Pilgrims, locals clash in Himachal Pradesh's Manikaran

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said it was a conflict between youths and should not be given a religious colour.

“Four people were injured in a clash between pilgrims and local people during a fair in the Sikh pilgrim town of Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh,” officials said on March 6.

Certain remarks made by the two sides against each other triggered the clash on Sunday night which resulted in local people allegedly damaging the vehicles of pilgrims who retaliated by pelting stones on houses.

A 21-second viral video purportedly shows stick-wielding pilgrims pelting stones on the houses of local residents near the Manikaran Gurudwara.

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said it was a conflict between youths and should not be given a religious colour. It is our duty to give security to tourists and pilgrims visiting the State, he said, adding, “We are all brothers and should stay united”.

“The locals alleged that the clash broke out after some pilgrims made unwarranted remarks against women while the tourists maintained that it was a comment by a local resident that led to the situation. Some of the people on both sides were under the influence of alcohol,” police said.

According to local people, it is not the first time that tourists have created ruckus and demanded that thorough checking of vehicles should be done to ensure that no arms are being carried into the State.