Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists confronted Muslim pilgrims here on their way to Ajmer in Rajasthan, making them apologise for offering namaz by the roadside and then sending them to the local police station.

A video clip, purportedly of the incident on Sunday, showed some men holding their ears in a gesture of apology. A couple of them were seen doing sit-ups. Activists from the Right-wing outfit are seen confronting the group from Bengal, asking the pilgrims if they knew that namaz in public spaces was not allowed in Uttar Pradesh.

Reports said the pilgrims had stopped their bus at a roadside eatery where the VHP activists confronted the travellers, accusing them of breaking the law. Additional superintendent of police Sanjeev Vajpayee said: “Eighteen people who were on their way to Ajmer were brought to Tilhar police station on Sunday night on a complaint that they were offering namaz on the roadside.”

“They were released after receiving an apology in writing and issuing a challan,” he said. The police fined the driver for carrying excess passengers and allowed the bus to leave for Ajmer. Local VHP leader Rajesh Awasthi, who reported the matter to the police, said: “I was on my way to some place when I saw the men offering namaz on the roadside.”

Awasthi said he told them that they were in Yogi Adityanath-ruled Uttar Pradesh, where offering namaz in the open was prohibited. In July, Uttar Pradesh police had lodged an FIR against a group of unidentified people who allegedly offered namaz at the Lulu Mall in Lucknow. A Hindu outfit had objected to this and sought permission to recite the Hanuman Chalisa there.