Violence erupted during a Durga idol immersion procession in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, leading to the death of a 22-year-old. In response, 30 people were detained, and protests escalated with shops and vehicles set ablaze.
Tensions escalated in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich on Monday, hours after violence during Durga idol immersion procession on Sunday led to the death of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra and injured many. News agency ANI reported that at least 30 people were detained and a First Information Report (FIR) was registered in connection with the violence, that happened in the Maharajganj area of Mahasi.
Meanwhile, a hunt to trace down the main accused was underway.
PROTESTERS SET FIRE TO SHOPS, HOSPITAL
Despite heightened security arrangements in the area, protesters on Monday set fire to several shops and vehicles in the vicinity. One hospital was also torched.
According to Bahraich Superintendent of Police (SP), Vrinda Shukla, the case in connection with the violence was registered against one person identified as Salman, as shots were fired from his house, which also functions as a shop.
The violence in Bahraich broke out while the procession was passing through a Muslim-dominated area. Reportedly, an argument between two groups escalated, after which stones were pelted and bullets were fired, thus killing one person.
Video shows a shop set on fire by protesters.
Shukla also said the procession was halted at various places, during which some miscreants attempted to create disturbance. Identities of those involved in the incident are being ascertained and some suspects have been detained, she said.
“All anarchist elements will be identified,” Shukla said, adding that stringent action would be taken against them, news agency PTI reported.
The police have been conducting route marches since the incident happened in the area to maintain law and order.
POLICE RESORT TO LATHI CHARGE, FIRE TEAR GAS
To bring the situation under control, the police resorted to lathi charge and fired tear gas at protesters in Bahraich.
DISTRICT MAGISTRATE VISITS VIOLENCE-HIT AREA
District Magistrate Monika Rani visited the violence-hit area and said she was trying to control the situation. On the instructions of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Home Secretary Sanjeev Gupta and ADG Law & Order also reached the spot.
#WATCH | Monika Rani, DM Bahraich says “We are trying to control the situation…” pic.twitter.com/3MZYBJzHvR— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2024
INTERNET SUSPENDED
Internet services were suspended in Bahraich to avoid any untoward incidents in the area, and to control any misinformation being spread via social media platforms.
BAHRAICH VIOLENCE
Sunday’s violence was triggered by a disagreement over music being blasted out from loudspeakers while the procession was passing through the area.
Ram Gopal Mishra of Rehua Mansoor village was walking in the procession when he suffered a bullet wound. He was rushed to a hospital where he died during treatment, one of his family members said, PTI reported.
The area was fraught with communal tension after the killing. Similar processions were cancelled in Fakharpur town and some other places.
FAMILY TAKES RAM GOPAL’s BODY TO STREETS
After the violence during the Durga idol immersion in Mahsi tehsil, the family members of Ram Gopal Mishra took to the streets with his body and demanded justice.
They were accompanied by their relatives and hundreds of other locals, who also protested against the incident.
Mishra’s last rites were performed later.
CHIEF MINISTER TAKES COGNIZANCE
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the situation and emphasized that those who seek to vitiate the atmosphere in Bahraich will not be spared.
“Those who spoil the atmosphere in Mahsi of Bahraich district will not be spared. Safety is guaranteed to all, but instructions have been given to identify the rioters and those whose negligence led to the incident and take strict action against them,” Yogi wrote in a post on X.
“Immersion of idols will continue. Administration and police officials have been directed to be present on the spot and communicate with religious organizations to ensure that the immersion of idols is done on time,” the Chief Minister added.
POLITICAL STORM ERUPTS
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, in an X post, wrote, “Any conspiracy to disturb the peace and harmony of Uttar Pradesh will not succeed. Those who protect the rioters are once again becoming active, but we have to be cautious and vigilant. The bright future of the state will not be allowed to be tampered with. The culprits will be brought under the ambit of the law and given strict punishment and the victims will get complete justice. I appeal to all the citizens to maintain peace and patience.”
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi alleged the attack on Ram Gopal Mishra was “planned”.
“This was well planned, the truth cannot be hidden by spreading lies, these illegal relatives of extremists will get a befitting reply,” he wrote in an X post.
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Fakhrul Hasan Chaand slammed the BJP government in the state and said, “The law and order has become questionable in UP. In the Bahraich incident, the shortcomings of the administration were exposed somewhere or the other. It was a failure of the police, it was a failure of the intelligence. Whether it is Bahraich or the tension in Ghaziabad, that is also not hidden from anybody.”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra appealed to Yogi Adityanath to take immediate action against the culprits.
“The news of violence in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh and the inaction of the administration are extremely sad and unfortunate. I appeal to the Chief Minister of the state and the state administration to take immediate action, take the public into confidence and stop the violence. Strictest action should be taken against the culprits. My humble appeal to the public is that please do not take the law into your own hands and maintain peace,” Vadra wrote in an X post.
Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai said, “There is jungle raj in the entire state. Shots were fired there (in Bahraich) and the government allowed a lathi-charge during the 481st Bharat Milap in Varanasi. The Chief Minister should resign and go back to the math.”
