The Wild West of Uttar Pradesh Part 3: Rise of the Hindu Fringe

The Wild West of Uttar Pradesh Part 3 meets Olympic aspirants who are being encouraged to keep weapons

Young Olympic aspirants are being encouraged to keep weapons. Hindu Fringe groups insist that licenses are a ‘non-issue’. (Photo: The Quint)

In Part III of The Wild West of Uttar Pradesh, The Quint meets young Olympic aspirants from the Bimbetta village in Delhi’s neighbouring Ghaziabad district (watch Part I and Part II of The Wild West of Uttar Pradesh). These young boys undergo training at the local village wrestling arena known as ‘akkhadas’.

At one such training camp run by Anil Yadav, the national head of the Hindu Swabhiman Sangh, young Hindu boys are trained and encouraged to keep weapons. Anil Yadav carries a gun and proudly shows us how to operate it. He claims he has a license but adds that a firearm license is a ‘non-issue’. The weapons used in training are not licensed.

When the Islamic State attacks us, it will be a like a civil war. All law and order machinery is suspended in such a situation and thus no licenses will be required for these weapons.

Anil Yadav, National Head, Hindu Swabhiman Sangh

Chetna Sharma and Anil Yadav tutor young Gagan before he appears for our cameras. Gagan, claims he is 15 years old and despite our probing, he doesn’t say much except he is here to ‘move forward’ in life.

Anuj, on the other hand, insists that it is their duty to fight for their country “when the ISIS attacks”.

If there is a crisis in the country, we will have to fight. By crisis I mean the Islamic State attack.

Anuj, 15 years old