After communal clashes, Bahraich’s Maharajganj and surrounding areas remain tense

A few incidents of protests and arson were reported in parts of the district Monday night, but police teams swiftly responded, bringing the situation under control before it escalated. Since then, raids have been underway to track down those responsible for the violence, police said.

Sources indicate that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to meet the family of Ram Gopal, who was killed in the violence, in Lucknow later Tuesday. Senior police officials, including Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Amitabh Yash, ADG Gorakhpur Zone Kalluri SP Kumar and Home Secretary Sanjeev Gupta, have arrived in Bahraich and are closely monitoring the situation.

Sources said the police are investigating whether the violence was planned and if there were adequate security forces along the Durga idol procession route, when the violence first began Sunday. Additionally, authorities are closely monitoring the Indo-Nepal border, located about 40 km from Bahraich district.

Clashes began Sunday evening after a group of people allegedly asked for the music to be turned off when a Durga idol procession was passing through the Muslim-majority Maharajganj. According to the police, a heated argument eventually gave way to stone-pelting and clashes.

Ram Gopal, who was attending the immersion, was wounded during firing that was reported in the area. He was taken to a hospital but eventually died of his wounds.

On Monday, a mob that gathered for his last rites staged a massive protest in Maharajganj and nearby areas Monday to demand the suspects in the case be hanged and their houses demolished. The protests turned violence when the mob went on a rampage setting fire to shops, houses, and vehicles, and prompting the police to use force and fire tear gas shells.

Thirty people have been detained in connection with both the murder and the communal clashes.

While the family of the deceased had refused to cremate the body, it was done after political leaders and government officials urged them to do so.

On Monday, police registered a case against 10 people, four of whom are unidentified, based on a complaint by Hari Milan, the brother of Ram Gopal Mishra. According to the complainant, Ram Gopal was allegedly dragged into the home of an accused and shot.

The complaint also claimed that Ram Gopal was attacked with swords.