Case registered over video of fireworks near Kedarnath temple

Police have registered a case against unidentified persons for allegedly setting off fireworks near the Kedarnath temple and circulating the video on social media, officials said on Wednesday. The action come following a series of recent incidents involving filming of controversial reels and videos at the revered shrine since the Kedarnath Yatra commenced last week. Nearly half a dozen such cases have been registered so far amid the ongoing pilgrimage, police said. In the latest purported clip, a group of people are seen celebrating a birthday by lighting fireworks near the temple premises. The person filming the video is heard saying he is celebrating his friend's birthday at the Dham, while another person responds with a ''thank you''. An FIR was filed at Sonprayag police station on Monday based on a complaint by Sub-inspector Ravindra Singh Rawat, in-charge of Rudraprayag Social Media Monitoring Cell. The case has been filed under Section 353 (3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for creating public nuisance at a place of worship and hurting religious sentiments. ''The reel appears to have been recorded during the initial days of the shrine's opening. An investigation is underway to identify all individuals involved in the act,'' Rawat said. Vineet Posti, a member of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee and a senior priest, said the administration and the committee have requested pilgrims to maintain the sanctity of the shrine. ''Our teams on the ground are continuously appealing to devotees to behave in a dignified manner that aligns with the religious significance of Kedarnath Dham,'' Posti said.

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