Police cancel Sapna Choudhary performance at Hathras fair over crowd control fears

Police officials in Hathras have withheld approval for a performance by Sapna Choudhary at the Dau Ji Maharaj fair on its final day, citing apprehension that crowd management could become problematic during the event. The decision to cancel the show comes despite event organisers having already advanced Rs 8 lakh to secure the entertainer's participation.

Local law enforcement authorities determined that the performance posed potential risks to public order and crowd safety, prompting them to deny the necessary clearance for the programme to proceed. The cancellation marks a significant setback for fair organisers, who had invested substantially in bringing the well-known performer to the event.

The Hathras fair, one of the region's notable religious and cultural gatherings, draws large crowds during its annual celebration. Police cited the challenge of managing massive crowds during high-profile entertainment events as their primary concern in declining to permit the scheduled show.

Such security-related cancellations at major public gatherings have become increasingly common in recent years as authorities take precautions to prevent incidents of crowd mismanagement. The fair's organisers now face the challenge of managing the financial implications of the cancelled performance while maintaining the quality of remaining scheduled events.