A violent altercation erupted between local vendors selling ritual offerings and temple priests during the daily, high-profile Shipra Aarti at the historic Ramghat on Sunday evening. The dispute, which reportedly sparked over the vending of oil lamps (diyas) and prayer materials near the performance zone, escalated into a full-blown physical brawl.

A video capturing the chaotic sequence has gone viral on social media platforms, showing both sides trading blows. The local Mahakal police station has registered cross-FIRs based on complaints from both factions and has initiated a formal investigation.

Dispute Over Vending Zones Near Sacred Altars

The clash took place right after the conclusion of the evening congregation. Ramghat routinely draws thousands of pilgrims, creating a high-demand market for low-cost prayer materials (poojan samagri).

The Conflict Matrix:  ├── The Prohibitive Stance: Priests ordered vendors to stop selling items near the active performance zone.  ├── Immediate Backlash    : Arguments escalated rapidly into physical pushing and shoving.  └── Escalation Factor     : Heavy brass aarti lamps utilized as makeshift weapons during the melee.  

Eyewitnesses noted that structural space constraints and arguments over interfering with the workflow of the sacred rituals triggered the operational friction.

Cross-Allegations: Brass Lamps Weaponized

Both factions have presented completely contrasting versions of the event to law enforcement, each claiming to be the aggrieved party.

Factions and Injuries Log:  ├── Vendor Camp (Uma Yadav & Mamta Parmar): Allege that Priest Ganesh Sharma struck them on the head and face with a heavy brass lamp.  └── Clerical Camp (Priest Vikas Sharma)   : Claims women attacked them during a routine eviction, causing a lit lamp to drop on them.  

The Vendors' Account

Uma Yadav, a resident of Tilkeshwar Colony, stated in her police complaint that she was selling flowers and oil lamps alongside her mother, Mamta Parmar, at the ghat. She alleged that Priest Ganesh Sharma aggressively ordered them to shut down their operations. When they resisted, the priest allegedly hurled obscenities and struck her on the head with a heavy brass ritual lamp (brass aarti). When her mother intervened, she was also struck, sustaining lacerations to her nose and face. A passerby, identified as Shipra, was also caught in the crossfire before Uma’s husband, Suresh Yadav, separated the groups.

The Priests' Account

In contrast, Priest Vikas Sharma stated to investigators that they merely requested the women to move their retail items outside the core prayer boundary to avoid creating bottlenecks for devotees. He alleged that the women became highly aggressive, initiating a physical assault. Vikas claimed that during the ensuing struggle, a lit brass lamp he was holding fell back onto him, inflicting burns near his hand and eye. He further stated that Priest Ganesh Sharma sustained deep contusions to his face and back during the scuffle.

Cross-Cases Registered as Viral Video Evidence Emerges

The local administration confirmed that three to four individuals sustained minor injuries. They were treated at a local medical facility and subsequently discharged.

The viral video footage clearly illustrates a chaotic scene, with brass lamps being thrown, fists flying, and mutual pushing on the steps of the riverbank. The police department has officially requisitioned the digital footage to conduct a frame-by-frame analysis to identify the primary instigators.

"We have accepted complaints from both groups and registered cross-cases under relevant sections. The viral video clip has been entered into the case diary as primary material evidence. We will take strict statutory action against those found guilty of violating the public peace at a holy site," stated Gagan Badal, In-charge of the Mahakal Police Station.