Uttarakhand cracks down on vacationers ‘disturbing sanctity of religious places’

Uttarakhand Police has launched a particular operation to crack down on vacationers discovered making a nuisance or indulging in indecent acts at spiritual locations, particularly round Ganga ghats.
Since Operation Maryada was kicked off on Friday, the police have arrested six folks for smoking hukkah at Ganga ghats and fined 16 others for littering. Three of them have been nabbed from Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar on Friday and three from Rishikesh on Saturday.
According to the police, the operation was launched after a number of movies displaying vacationers smoking hukkah close to the Ganga in Haridwar went viral. At least 25 vacationers have been arrested in Haridwar for a similar in the previous couple of days.
DGP Ashok Kumar mentioned in a video message, “We welcome all tourists coming to the state to visit revered religious places and other tourist spots. However, in recent days some videos came up in which some tourists were seen disturbing the sanctity of religious places by drinking alcohol and other indecent activities. Such acts will not be tolerated… the operation has been launched under which strict action would be taken against all such people.”

The DGP mentioned the operation would proceed for 15 days.

DIG (legislation and order) Nilesh Anand Bharne mentioned, “The operation is not to disturb tourists unnecessarily but only to stop those indulging in indecent activities, which goes against the traditional values of the religious places. Stress is on police action in the first 15 days, but further awareness programme like signature and pledge campaigns will be launched.”