Uttarkhand bans taking pictures of bathing women at Kumbh mela

Shooting photographs of women taking bath at the Maha Kumbh mela in Haridwar will not be allowed and criminal cases will be filed against those violating the directive, Uttarakhand Chief Minister R. P. Nishank has said.

Taking serious note of complaints that some electronic mediapersons had taken pictures of bathing women in river Ganga, Mr. Nishank has asked the administration to take tough action against such people, official sources said here today.

Mr. Nishank directed the administration to file criminal cases against the erring electronic mediapersons, they said.

All mediapersons will have to give an undertaking that they would not shoot such pictures, the sources said.

The move follows complaints that some electronic media channels had taken such pictures during their coverage of the Kumbh mela since January 14 when the three-month-long religious congregation started.

The Uttarakhand government expects nearly 4-6 crore pilgrims to participate in the Mela.