UP Bahraich communal violence: 2 more arrested, had ‘admitted to arson and rioting’
The clash began on October 13 when members of a minority community reportedly asked that the DJ music be turned off as the procession passed near their homes and a mosque in Maharajganj.
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The police identified the two arrested persons as Prem Kumar and Saburi Mishra, both residents of Rampura village which is near Maharajganj, said a police officer. (PTI)The police on Wednesday arrested two men who purportedly claimed in a video that the recent violence in Bahraich was “sponsored” and apparently admitting to be involved in it. The move comes a day after Bahraich Superintendent of Police Vrinda Shukla rubbished the claims made in the video, which surfaced online, as “rambling of drunk men.”
On October 13, a 22-year-old man was shot dead in a communal clash when a Durga idol immersion procession was passing through Maharajganj village in the district and incidents of violence were also reported the next day also.
The police identified the two arrested persons as Prem Kumar and Saburi Mishra, both residents of Rampura village which is near Maharajganj, said a police officer.
The police are looking into the role of the duo, along with others, in the violence that broke out in Maharajganj town, Maheshpurva and Chanpara and Parsohana areas on October 14. Amid the clash, vehicles parked outside houses were set on fire and valuables were looted.
The accused have been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 191 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 121 (Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 132 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 309 (robbery) and others.
The clash began on October 13 when members of a minority community reportedly asked that the DJ music be turned off as the procession passed near their homes and a mosque in Maharajganj. This led to an argument that escalated into clashes and stone-pelting between the two groups.
The situation worsened when shots were allegedly fired, resulting in a local resident, Ram Gopal Mishra, suffering a bullet wound. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. A total of 14 FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence.
Till date, over 80 persons have been arrested.
After the video surfaced online, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav targeted the BJP on Tuesday, alleging that its workers were involved in the Bahraich violence.
He also alleged that the party was giving a “free hand” to lumpen elements, to indulge in violence on its behalf. “If anyone rioted in Bahraich, it was the BJP workers,” Yadav claimed.
However, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi dismissed Yadav’s allegations, calling them “baseless”.
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