Bahraich violence | Family, neighbours remember youth: ‘We are all heartbroken’

The wedding was a modest affair, with only close family members from both sides present. “ The marriage took place on July 20 at a temple, around 40 km from the village,” said his elder sister, Preeti Mishra, who lives in Lucknow.

The house of Ram Gopal’s wife Roli Mishra, 19, is also in the same village and their relationship came as a “surprise” to many.

Vehicles torched during the clash, in Bahraich on Tuesday. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Residents of Rehuwa Mansar said they were shocked by Ram Gopal’s death. “We are all heartbroken,” said Vinod Kumar, a villager.
The villagers described Ram Gopal’s death as a significant loss to the community. “Many were fond of him because he was always willing to help,” said local resident Alok Tiwari.

Apart from his wife Roli, Ram Gopal leaves behind his 70-year-old father, Kailash Nath Mishra, a farmer; his mother, Munni Devi and an elder brother, Har Milan Mishra.

Recalling the day of the incident, Ram Gopal’s cousin, Pundreek Mishra, said that on Sunday, Ram Gopal and others were preparing ‘prasad’ at a nearby temple. “When they learned that the Durga Puja procession would pass by around 12:30 pm, they hurried to finish their work before it arrived,” said Pundreek.

He added that Ram Gopal and others joined the procession and when it reached Maharajganj village around 4:30 pm, an altercation broke out after members of another community asked that the music system be turned off.

Maharajganj is around six km from Ram Gopal’s village. “Ram Gopal had plans to move to Delhi to find work. He had big dreams,” said Har Milan, sitting in their modest single-storey house with unplastered walls. He added that the family would fight the murder case until all the accused are brought to justice.

A cousin of the deceased Pundreek Mishra, said that on Sunday evening, as tensions escalated due to heated arguments between two groups, Ram Gopalclimbed onto the roof of Abdul Hameed’s house and took down a green flag that was hoisted there. Encouraged by the crowd on the road, Ram Gopal then raised a saffron flag on the accused’s house, said Pundreek.

A video of Ram Gopal purportedly removing the green flag and hoisting a saffron flag surfaced on social media. Pundreek added that this act may have proved fatal for Ram Gopal.

On Tuesday, accompanied by Mahasi MLA Sureshwar Singh, Ramgopal Mishra’s parents, wife and cousin visited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his official residence in Lucknow.

Adityanath said the culprits behind this “unforgivable incident will not be spared.”

The Chief Minister also instructed the authorities concerned to provide immediate financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family and to ensure they receive all government benefits, including housing, sanitation facilities and Ayushman scheme coverage.
Kishan Mishra, Ram Gopal’s cousin, said the CM had assured them of strict action against the perpetrators.

“We are satisfied with the assurances given by the CM,” Kishan said. He added, “Our family is confident that justice will be served.”