Punam Masih, TwoCircles.net
Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh): Villages in Bahraich are still deserted following the October 13 communal violence in the districts, particularly in the Maharajganj’s Mahasi. Young residents have fled for safety. The unrest erupted during a Durga idol immersion procession, when a dispute over music played on a DJ sparked a confrontation between communities.
The violence erupted on Sunday during the Durga idol immersion procession in the Mahasi Maharajganj market area of the Hardi police station. Amidst stone-pelting and arson, the police fired twenty rounds. A young man named Ram Gopal Mishra was killed due to gunfire.
Following his death, the situation in the area became even more tense. The aftermath was visible the next day as well, with arson reported in the areas surrounding Maharajganj. Rioters set a motorcycle showroom on fire.
The deceased, Gopal Mishra, had just been married four months ago. His wife, Roli Mishra, stated, “Blood for blood. Those who killed my husband should be encountered.”
After the incident, violence broke out again on October 14, resulting in looting of homes, as well as the burning of shops, vehicles and a private hospital.
According to a viral video on social media, during the altercation, Ram Gopal climbed onto the roof of a Muslim house. He then tried to remove the flag on the roof and replace it with a saffron flag. During this, the grill on the roof also broke.
Eyewitness Rajan Mishra said, “Three boys from the village reached the scene. A dispute started over the DJ playing music, which led to stone-pelting. When Ram Gopal raised the flag, the dispute escalated. His family dragged him inside, and during this, the police began lathi charge, not allowing us to go further.”
By the time some people reached Ram Gopal, he was covered in blood. “We also came under fire but managed to escape. We sought help from the tehsildar but were denied; we reached the hospital via an e-rickshaw, where the police declared him dead.”
After the incident, police forces from six districts, along with the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), were called in. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting with senior officials, directing strict action against the accused.
Meanwhile, a sting operation conducted by Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar has alleged that the police allowed rioters a two-hour period to attack Muslim properties. This has led to the incident being labelled as “state-sponsored violence”, especially given the timing ahead of by polls in the state.
The individuals in the sting, identified as Prem Kumar and Saburi Mishra, alleged that the violence targeting Muslim properties was orchestrated with complicity from local authorities. In the purported footage, they assert that the police granted them a two-hour window to execute the attacks.
However, they claimed their efforts were thwarted by a lack of support from local Hindu residents. These revelations have raised serious questions about the police conduct during the unrest and provided a reason for Opposition parties to criticise the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
The release of the video sparked widespread outrage on social media, prompting significant political backlash. Leaders from the Opposition, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, accused the BJP of instigating and enabling the violence. He described it “state-sponsored”, alleging government negligence toward the rioters.
Kumar and Mishra have since been detained, with police expressing scepticism about the reliability of their statements – citing their apparent intoxication during the recording. The Superintendent of Police in Bahraich has deemed their claims unreliable, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the sting operation.
Nevertheless, investigations into the incident continue, focusing on the roles of Kumar, Mishra, and others in the violence across Maharajganj.
The two men face multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including unlawful assembly, causing harm and robbery. In addition, more than 80 individuals have been arrested in connection with the riots, and several FIRs have been filed as part of the ongoing investigation. Some police officers too have faced disciplinary measures for their failure to manage the situation effectively, with reports of suspensions due to negligence.
The impact of the communal violence is being observed in a 10-kilometer radius around Maharajganj. A journalist, speaking on condition of anonymity, told TwoCircles.net that violence erupted again on Monday after Sunday’s incident, resulting in the burning of people’s homes, destroying their entire life savings.
Moreover, where the incident started on Sunday, a jewellery store was looted and set ablaze.
The situation is such that no one is staying in the village. People have left their homes to stay in fields at night. No one is being allowed inside. Access is granted only after ID checks. Local residents are also conducting checks. The entire area has turned into a cantonment.
“This type of communal violence has happened for the first time. It was completely premeditated, in which a boy was brutally killed. As a result, there is an atmosphere of violence in the entire region, and anything can happen at any time. Currently, we are appealing for peace,” said a local.
On the other hand, after the violence on Monday, a climate of fear has spread among the people. Nagma from Kabadi Purwa, two kilometers from Maharajganj, said, “Suddenly, people burst into our home and started vandalising. They even misbehaved with women. Seeing the situation, the police from Mahasi arrived and took 50 people to the station, keeping them there all night.”
Many houses in the violence-affected area were completely burned down. During the unrest, locals said, more than 2,000 people arrived around one in the afternoon and said, “Find and kill the people.” Out of fear, people fled their homes.
Hasm Mohammad Khan’s house also fell victim to this violence. “In the afternoon, people suddenly came and started indulging in vandalism. The family somehow managed to escape to the fields. Still, a rioter struck my brother on the head, causing him serious injury,” he said.
Another resident Kaleem stated, “My entire house has been burned down. If we had not saved their children, the rioters would have burned them alive, even though our home is three kilometers away from the violence-affected area.”
According to Mangu from Maharajganj, the rioters came equipped with petrol. They first set homes on fire and then vehicles. People fled towards the fields to save their lives.