One killed in Bahraich clashes

The two groups again clashed in Bashirganj and Kadipura in the morning despite heavy deployment of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and the police. They exchanged brickbats and torched two shops and a police motorcycle at Bashirganj crossing. They assaulted two policemen before the PAC dispersed the mobs.

Violence erupted in the morning when two youths of Kadipura locality were attacked by another group about two kilometres away from the place where the police was deployed on Wednesday night.

Two policemen tried to rescue the youths but they too were beaten up and their motorcycle was set ablaze. The policemen and the injured youths were admitted to the district hospital.

Hearing about the attack,a crowd gathered at Bashirganj crossing and started shouting provocative slogans. Members of the other community also gathered and brick-batting began.

Senior officials,including District Magistrate Govind Raju N S and SP Shailendra Tripathi,rushed to the place and ordered a cane-charge to control the mob.

The police said the trouble began when one Ram Dalan Yadav and his aides attacked the cleric for ignoring their objections against renovation of the boundary wall.

This led to a clash between members of two communities. Ram Dalan Yadav and Sabit Ram Yadav suffered gunshot injuries.

While Ram Dalan’s condition was stated to be stable,Sabit Ram died in Lucknow on Thursday evening.

Special DG (Law and Order) Brij Lal reached Bahraich in the evening and talked to members of both communities.

Additional police forces from adjacent districts had been called and the PAC was deployed in the town.