On October 13, communal tensions erupted in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh leading to violent clashes during the Maa Durga visarjan procession in the village of Rehua Mansoor. The incident, which occurred in the Hardi police station area, left one person dead and several others injured after members of the Muslim community reportedly objected to the DJ music being played as the procession passed a mosque.
The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra, who sustained 15-20 bullet wounds. His family has accused the police of negligence, claiming that they were denied entry to the location where Mishra was locked and shot, while the police allegedly resorted to lathi-charge on those seeking to intervene.
Incident sparks communal tension
According to local reports, the violence broke out on Sunday (October 13) evening when the murti of Maa Durga procession, heading towards Gauriya Ghat for visarjan, passed a mosque in the Maharajganj area. As the participants chanted religious slogans and played music, some Muslim community members gathered near the mosque and asked the procession to stop the DJ music. This led to a heated argument between the two groups, quickly escalating into chaos as stones were hurled at the procession and the murti.
The Hindus present at the scene demanded that the police arrest those responsible for the stone-pelting, but tensions further escalated when more members of the Muslim community joined the fray. Amid the growing unrest, Ram Gopal Mishra was shot dead. Another participant, Saroj Tiwari, was also injured in the stone-pelting and is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
Family claims Mishra was locked and shot
In a viral video circulating on social media platform X, Ram Gopal Mishra is seen unfurling a saffron flag on top of a house where a green flag had been previously installed. Some users on X speculated that this act may have provoked the attack on him.
Was 22 year old Gopal Mishra from Uttar Pradesh shot dead by Islamists for installing a bhagwan flag after removing green flag? pic.twitter.com/3O9cdjecIl
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) October 14, 2024
However, Mishra’s family has presented a different narrative, alleging that he was forcibly locked inside the house of a man named Abdul Hamid, where multiple rounds of bullets were fired at him. They also accused the police of preventing them from entering the house to help Mishra.
Statement of an eye-witness pic.twitter.com/GHmvsxi1zZ
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) October 14, 2024
Mishra, the son of Kailash Nath from Rehua Mansoor, was rushed to the Bahraich Medical College after the shooting but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. His death has sparked widespread anger and unrest in the area.
Protests and property damage follow the incident
Following Mishra’s death, family members and others participating in the procession staged a protest by placing his body outside the Bahraich Medical College, demanding justice. The visarjan processions were halted across the city, and the damaged idols were left at a road junction as a mark of protest.
Angry protesters later vandalised houses and vehicles in the Maharajganj Bazaar area, setting fire to four houses and several two-wheelers. Many of the idols were also damaged during the stone-pelting, further inflaming tensions.
The family of the deceased and other Hindu participants have accused the Hardi police of mishandling the situation, stating that the police could have diffused the tension early on but failed to do so. They also alleged that the police sided with the Muslim community by lathi-charging the Hindus who were protesting the attack.
Police and government response
After nearly two hours of violence, senior police officials arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. A heavy police force has since been deployed in the area to prevent further clashes, but authorities have remained tight-lipped and refused to provide statements to the media about the incident. The police have encouraged the devotees to resume the immersion of the Durga idols, but the Hindus involved have refused, demanding justice for the killing of Ram Gopal Mishra.
In response to the rising tensions, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a statement on social media platform X, condemning the violence and promising strict action against those responsible. “Stringent action should be taken against individuals creating trouble during festivals. Such activities will not be tolerated,” the CM wrote. He also called for dialogue with religious organisations to ensure that future immersion processions proceed smoothly and without delay.
As the investigation continues, the Hindu community remains on edge, awaiting further action from the authorities. CM Yogi Adityanath has assured the public that none of the accused will be spared, and efforts are being made to restore peace and order in the region.
This tragic incident has left the people of Bahraich in shock, as yet another example of communal unrest marred what was supposed to be a peaceful religious procession. Many compare this case with the brutal killing of Candan Gupta.
Chandan Gupta was killed in a similar manner
On January 26, 2018, in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, a peaceful ‘Tiranga Yatra’ was violently attacked by Islamists. The attack claimed the life of Chandan Gupta, also known as Abhishek. Gunshots were fired, and stones were hurled at the procession. In an interview with OpIndia, Chandan’s father, Sushil Gupta, shared the family’s current hardships following the tragedy.
Sushil Gupta was quoted in the media recounting the challenges his family has faced since Chandan’s death. “For about a year after the murder, we had police protection, but it was later removed. My eldest son, Vivek Gupta, is a key witness in the case. He was working as a medical representative, but due to the fear and threats we’ve received, we made him leave his job. We’ve been threatened multiple times. Now, I am solely responsible for the household expenses. I work as a compounder at a private hospital, and I also have the responsibility of arranging my daughter’s marriage.”
Sushil Gupta expressed his frustration, stating that out of the 29 accused in Chandan’s murder, 28 have been released on bail by the High Court.
Gupta further explained, “Whenever there were hearings in the Kasganj Court, we had only 3-4 supporters with us, while the accused would show up with 100-200 people, trying to intimidate us. That’s why we decided to fight the case in the High Court with our own money and had the case transferred to Lucknow. Now, we travel to Lucknow for the hearings without any security.”
Notably, on September 3, 2024, A female lawyer, Mohini Tomar, fighting Chandan’s case was murdered in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh. Advocates Mustafa Kamil, Asad, Haider, Salman, Munajir, and Keshav Mishra have been accused of this murder.
