On Monday, in Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh, violence rocked, a day after a 22-year-old man named Gopal Mishra was shot dead. Four people were injured during the Durga Puja idol immersion rally, amid allegations stating that the clashes held due to the inflammatory songs during the procession in Muslim-dominated areas, stone-throwing from nearby homes, and a move to remove the green flag.
Angry protesters stopped traffic and set fire to cars and stores while demanding justice. The boycott also triggered a political dispute, with the Samajwadi party accusing the state government of ignoring law and order.
CM Yogi Adityanath will meet the victim’s family on Tuesday in Lucknow, and Hardi SHO SK Verma and Mahsi outpost in-charge Shiv Kumar were suspended in the aftermath of the violence.
The deputy CM, Keshav Prasad Maurya, said, “All culprits will be given strict punishment, and victims will get justice.” The opposition blamed the authorities: “When the procession was being taken out, the administration should have ensured ample security on the route, and it should have been checked what was playing on loudspeakers. Was it insulting anyone?”
The violence began around 4 pm on Sunday, when the rally reached a Muslim-dominated area, Maharajganj, nearly 130km from Lucknow.
Mohammad Afzal, the husband of Maharajganj’s head Afroz, said the dispute broke when loud, offensive pop songs played triggered, and a person climbed the rooftop to remove the green flag and hoist the saffron one.
The protestors placed Mishra’s body near the main avenue and set fire to four shops, demanding immediate action. Makkar Tiwari, a resident of Bahorikapur, and Saroj Tiwari of Maharajganj got injured. A man of Rehuwa Mansoor resident was also injured and taken to hospital and later died.
Tensions arose on Monday when the family refused to cremate Mishra, and the body was finally cremated around 2 pm after intervention from top officials. Thirty people have been taken into custody regarding this case. Police filed a first individual report against Salman, from whose bullet Mishra shot.
As per Yogi Adiyanath’s directions, senior officials were camping in the village to maintain peace. He ordered the identification of all the culprits and action against them. The deceased family members, including his brother, Hari Milan, demands that a case should be registered against those who are responsible.
The communal row also connects the case with political controversy and the upcoming elections to worsen the communal atmosphere.