Haridwar Kumbh Mela traders Association demanded passes

Traders from Hardwar were deeply anguished with the attitude of security forces towards them during the Makar Sankranti and Solar Eclipse Snan here. The traders asserted that they faced immense difficulty in reaching their homes from their shops due to security forces as they were denied entry beyond the barriers. The traders Association demanded that passes be issued to their members’ much before the next Snan day so that such situation did not arise again.
The situation became tense and a minor scuffle broke out between the trading community and the security personnel that was diffused by the office bearers of the trader’s association by standing at the barriers in person and arranging for their free access beyond the barriers.
The situation arose due to the callous attitude of the Mela officials as they failed in issuing passes to the traders on the first day of ‘Makar Sankranti’ Snan despite the assurance given by them of providing passes for two on foot to go to-and fro for their business chores. The traders lamented the fact that the police authorities adhered to the agreement during early stages of Snan but later refused to cooperate, furthermore the police was not accepting the passes issued by the traders association of Hardwar and refused them from entering their shops inside the Zero Zone.