📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rselvaraj
Crime
Minors brandish guns and swords in Uttar Pradesh's Vijayadashami procession, video shows
✍️ India Today
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 03:31 AM
👁 10
A video circulating online shows children carrying firearms and swords during a Vijayadashami parade in Uttar Pradesh, prompting police scrutiny over illegal weapon possession.
A video that has gone viral on social media captures a Vijayadashami procession in Uttar Pradesh where several minors are seen waving firearms and swords. The footage, recorded by an on‑lookers, shows children, some appearing to be under the age of 18, handling weapons openly as the procession moves through the streets.
Law enforcement agencies have taken note of the clip and are reportedly launching an inquiry into the illegal possession of arms by under‑aged individuals. Uttar Pradesh police have previously warned that carrying unlicensed weapons, especially by minors, is a punishable offence under the Arms Act.
Vijayadashami, a major Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil, traditionally features processions, cultural performances and the display of symbolic weapons. However, the presence of real firearms and swords in the hands of children has raised concerns about public safety and the potential for misuse during large gatherings.
Officials have not yet disclosed whether any arrests have been made, but they have urged the public to report similar incidents. The incident underscores the need for stricter monitoring of weapon distribution during religious events in the state.
Law enforcement agencies have taken note of the clip and are reportedly launching an inquiry into the illegal possession of arms by under‑aged individuals. Uttar Pradesh police have previously warned that carrying unlicensed weapons, especially by minors, is a punishable offence under the Arms Act.
Vijayadashami, a major Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil, traditionally features processions, cultural performances and the display of symbolic weapons. However, the presence of real firearms and swords in the hands of children has raised concerns about public safety and the potential for misuse during large gatherings.
Officials have not yet disclosed whether any arrests have been made, but they have urged the public to report similar incidents. The incident underscores the need for stricter monitoring of weapon distribution during religious events in the state.