Thirty people were held by police in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district on Monday in relation to the violence and murder, one day after a 22-year-old man was slain during communal riots. With the exception of police officers conducting flag marches, the streets of the Maharajganj area, the epicentre of the fighting, were deserted. Meanwhile, Bahraich has suspended internet services.
After some residents allegedly demanded that the music be turned off while a Durga idol procession went through a Muslim suburb, fighting broke out on Sunday night. According to authorities, a heated dispute turned into fights and stone-throwing between two groups.
RamGopal, a local, was shot by one of the purported gunfire, which made the situation worse, according to the police. After being brought to the hospital, he passed away from his wounds.
Ten individuals were booked by police on Monday in connection with the murder case, four of whom are unknown.
Hari Milan, the brother of Ram Gopal, filed a complaint, which led to the case being opened at the Hardi police station. The complainant stated that Ram Gopal was shot after being taken inside the house of an accused named Abdul Hameed while he was attending an idol immersion at Maharajganj in Mahsi tehsil. Additionally, the complaint claimed that swords were used to harm his brother.
Following a postmortem on Monday, Ram Gopal’s body was given to his family. A big crowd then transported the remains to Mahsi tehsil, where they staged a demonstration calling for the execution of those responsible for the murder. Protesters said they would not conduct the last rites if the demand was not met.
Nonetheless, the family consented to hold the funeral at the behest of government representatives and political figures. According to DGP Prashant Kumar, things are under control in Bahraich right now. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to the DGP, is keeping a close eye on the situation and has ordered an intensification of the search for individuals responsible for the violence. The police chief also urged local residents to remain vigilant against rumours and misinformation.
The police said that during the altercation, stones were thrown at houses, businesses, and automobiles. In addition, a Hardi two-wheeler store was set on fire. Locals in Bahraich, who had stopped immersing Durga idols after the event, have now started the ceremony again after receiving assurances from the government and police that those responsible would face harsh consequences.
Drones are being used by police to monitor the area, and raids are being carried out to track down criminals. They claimed to be using photos and footage of the incident to identify attackers.
ADG for Law and Order Amitabh Yash and Home Secretary Sanjeev Gupta were instructed to be present at the location by Chief Minister Adityanath. Senior police officers and four IPS officers were also on duty.
To further help bring the situation under control, 12 PAC companies, 2 CRPF companies, and 1 RAF company were sent in. Station House Officer of Hardi police station, Suresh Kumar Verma, and a sub-inspector have been suspended.
Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, stated in a post X that it was “not a coincidence” that the “worsening of the communal atmosphere” coincided with the impending by-elections, although he did not identify Bahraich.
“The public understands everything. Everyone knows whose old strategy is to resort to violence out of fear of defeat. This is the knock of the by-elections. If the government makes real, solid arrangements instead of superficial law and order measures, everything will be fine. But this will happen only if the government wants it to,” he wrote.
