India, July 9 -- A group of Kanwar Yatra pilgrims allegedly vandalized a car and assaulted its 30-year-old driver in Ghaziabad's Modinagar on Tuesday, claiming the vehicle had hit their Kanwar (the sacred structure they carry) while returning from Haridwar.

Police said the driver, Rajiv Sharma, was rescued from the mob, but his Swift car was badly damaged by the Kanwariyas.

"The incident happened late Tuesday night when Kanwariyas were returning from Haridwar and were headed to Haryana. It was alleged that the Swift car brushed aside one of the Kanwariyas, and this infuriated the group. They vandalized the car and also beat up the driver," assistant commissioner of police (ACP) of the Modinagar circle, Gyan Prakash Rai, said.

Sharma, a...