Haridwar, January 14, 2026: Two young men were detained by police in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, after a video of them walking around Har Ki Pauri in traditional ‘sheikh’ attire went viral on social media, sparking controversy and public outrage. The video showed the men bathing at the Ganga ghat and interacting with visitors while dressed in kandura, the long robe commonly worn by Muslim clerics.

According to officials, the video, which circulated widely on social media platforms, showed the two men walking around Malviya Ghat and Har Ki Pauri, taking photos, and engaging with people present at the ghat. When questioned by a priest at the site, one of the men was heard saying that they “can roam anywhere in India.” The men reportedly identified themselves as Habibullah and Habibi, claiming to be residents of Dubai.

The incident quickly caught the attention of local authorities and the Ganga Sabha, the body responsible for managing religious activities at Har Ki Pauri. Ujjwal Pandit, a member of the Sabha, said that the video appeared to show a deliberate attempt to create a disturbance at the holy site. A search was reportedly launched to locate the duo after the video surfaced, but they had already left the premises.

Hours later, the police detained the two men. Upon questioning, they revealed their real identities as Naveen Kumar and Prince, both 22-year-old residents of Sidcul in Haridwar. The men told police that they were filming content for their YouTube channel and had no intention of offending anyone.

Following their confession, Kumar and Prince issued an apology for hurting religious sentiments. Police cautioned them not to engage in similar activities in the future and subsequently released them.

The episode has added to ongoing discussions in Haridwar about regulating access to Ganga ghats during major events such as the Kumbh Mela. In recent months, the Ganga Sabha and local priest communities have proposed that all ghats in the Kumbh Mela area, including Har Ki Pauri, be restricted to Hindu visitors only—a proposal currently under consideration by the Uttarakhand government.

The incident highlights growing sensitivities around religious spaces in India and the potential consequences of social media-driven content that intersects with faith practices. Authorities have urged citizens and content creators to respect local customs and religious sentiments while visiting sacred sites.