Bahraich communal clashes during Durga idol immersion: “They tortured him before shooting him dead. There were also pellet injuries on his body," said Ram Gopal Mishra's father Kailashnath. “An injury was found near his left eye and toe nails. The nails were not missing, but some parts of the nails were. The eye injury was due to a blunt object," Bahraich CMO Sanjay Kumar said, elaborating on the post-mortem report
Kailashnath, the father of Ram Gopal Mishra, 19, who allegedly died in a communal clash which broke out in Maharajganj area of Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich during Durga idol immersion on October 13, sought death penalty for those responsible for the incident.
“Ram Gopal didn’t deserve such a death. He had plans to move to Delhi for work. He had big dreams, but now they will remain unfulfilled. He had just gotten married, and now he’s gone. The murderers should be hanged,” said the devastated 75-year-old father. “They tortured him before shooting him dead. There were also several pellet injuries on his body. My son didn’t deserve such a brutal end.”
Ram Gopal Mishra’s family, including his father, mother and wife, he got married to three months ago, on Tuesday met UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh and support to the family. They were accompanied by Mahasi MLA Sureshwar Singh.
During the meeting, Adityanath assured the family that the culprits behind this “unforgivable incident” would not go unpunished. The CM instructed authorities to provide immediate financial assistance and ensure they receive all government benefits, such as housing, sanitation, and Ayushman scheme coverage.
WANT DEATH PENALTY FOR THE MURDERERS: SISTER
Although not financially sound, the Mishra family of Rehuwa Mansar village was known for being close-knit. Kailashnath, a farmer, had a strong connection with his three sons. His married daughter, Priti, too, was deeply connected with her brothers. “If I could, I would have killed my brother’s murderers with my own hands. We want death penalty for those who killed my brother,” she said.
Kishan, Mishra’s cousin, said the CM had promised strict action against those responsible.
A neighbour said, “Their laughter turned into tears in an instant.” Now, his mother, wife and siblings are in grief.”
FAMILY’s VERSION OF THE CHAOS
Mishra’s brother, Harimilan, recalled how they were preparing ‘prasad’ at a nearby temple when they learned that the Durga Puja procession would pass by around 12:30 pm. “We hurried to finish our work before it arrived,” said Harimilan.
Around 4.30 pm, as the procession reached Maharajganj, tension rose as members of another community requested that the music system be turned off. An altercation broke out, escalating rapidly into chaos.
“The idol’s hand broke due to the stone-pelting, and this vandalism enraged the devotees,” he said. The police resorted to lathi-charging the Hindu crowd, which only worsened the situation, Harimilan added.
जनपद बहराइच की दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना में काल-कवलित हुए युवक के शोक संतप्त परिजनों से आज लखनऊ में भेंट की।दुःख की इस घड़ी में उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार पूरी संवेदनशीलता और प्रतिबद्धता से पीड़ित परिवार के साथ खड़ी है।
आश्वस्त रहें, पीड़ित परिवार को न्याय दिलाना @UPGovt की शीर्ष… pic.twitter.com/gXMvLfcP0D
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) October 15, 2024
In the heat of the moment, Mishra climbed onto the roof of a house and removed a flag that was hoisted there, replacing it with a saffron flag amid the crowd’s cheers. “That act may have proved fatal for Ram Gopal,” Harimilan said as a video of the incident surfaced on social media.
Amid the chaos, Ram Gopal was dragged into a house by members of the other community, where he was brutally killed. “If police had not lathicharged us, my brother would have been alive today,” he said.
POLICE VERSION
Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vrinda Shukla said, “In Mahasi’s Maharajganj area, a procession was passing through a Muslim locality. Arguments erupted, and a person from the Hindu community was shot dead, which heightened the tension.”
Bahraich CMO Sanjay Kumar told News18 that Mishra’s post-mortem report showed that excessive bleeding caused by the injuries due to 25-30 shrapnels led to Mishra’s death. “An injury was found near his left eye and toe nails. The nails were not missing, but some parts of the nails were. The eye injury was due to a blunt object.”
MORE THAN 50 ARRESTS SO FAR
In response to the incident, the UP government removed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Hardi police station and the in-charge of Mahsi area. Circle Officer (CO) Mahsi Rupendra Gaur was replaced with CO Ravi Khokhar of Rampur. District Magistrate Monika Rani confirmed the arrest of more than 50 individuals involved in the communal clash. Investigation is underway and arrests are being made on the basis of video footage.
