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The first major bathing day, Tuesday, will see ash-smeared naked Hindu holy men with matted dreadlocks, known as Naga sadhus, take a dip in the northern Indian city at dawn.

Officials suspended Darryl George, 19, last August, saying his dreadlocks violated the dress code.

Mr Njuguna says he thought his friend was profiled by the officer who shot him because he had dreadlocks.

He is "depressed", his lawyer George Musisi told BBC News, and having to cut off the dreadlocks he spent 17 years growing is one of the main reasons.

Benjamin Deshon Provo claimed he had faced discrimination because he is Muslim and was ordered to cut his dreadlocks or be fired.