On October 15, 2024, the family of 22-year-old Ram Gopal Mishra, who was brutally murdered by a Muslim mob in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, demanding justice. The family, consumed by grief and anger, called for the encounter of those responsible for the horrific crime.
Speaking to Aaj Tak before their meeting with the chief minister, the family expressed their desire for nothing short of justice. “We want an encounter of the perpetrators. We don’t want anything else from the chief minister,” they said, their voices filled with pain and determination.
Roli Mishra, the widow of the slain Ram Gopal, gave an emotional statement, voicing her anguish. “They should die in the same manner my husband did,” she said, her face reflecting the agony of her loss. The couple had only been married for two months before the tragic incident occurred on October 13, 2024, during a visarjan (immersion) procession of Maa Durga murti. Ram Gopal was brutally tortured and killed by Abdul Hameed, his sons Sarfaraz and Faheem, along with Sahir Khan and others, during the violent attack.
#WATCH | Family members of the deceased of the Bahraich incident meet Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/wwhZQMmO0R
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2024
Family’s struggle for justice
The grief-stricken family held out hope for justice, though they expressed uncertainty about the outcome of their meeting with CM Yogi. “We don’t know if CM Yogi will give justice or not until we go to meet him,” one family member remarked. Their demand was unwavering: “We want blood for blood.”
Roli Mishra, who was dissatisfied with the police’s handling of the case, stated bluntly, “We are not satisfied with the action taken by the police.” She made it clear that nothing short of severe punishment for the perpetrators would bring peace. “We will not be satisfied until those people are punished and their blood is shed like his. We will go to meet the chief minister and see. My husband will be at peace only after the culprits are punished. We will also get peace then. We don’t want anything else,” she said.
Another family member, while seated in their vehicle, echoed similar sentiments, expressing frustration with the authorities. “I saw his condition. No one else, including the police, was with me at that time. The cops were completely inept,” he stated, blaming police negligence for the tragedy. “Nothing would have happened if there was no lathi-charge by the cops. Action should be taken. We are not satisfied with their (accused’s) arrest. We want an encounter,” the individual demanded. The police had resorted to lathi-charge on Hindu devotees who were retaliating after the mob attacked them with stones, allegedly instigated by individuals from Abdul Hameed’s house.
Grieving mother’s cry for justice
Ram Gopal’s mother, overcome with grief, cried for justice. “My son is gone. What will we do now? All we want is justice. They (the killers) should be punished the way my son was killed,” she said, her tears reflecting the devastation of losing her youngest son. Ram Gopal was the youngest of three brothers, one of whom had already passed away a few years ago.
His elder brother, Harimilan Mishra, expressed his intention to personally meet CM Yogi to narrate the entire incident and the family’s demands. “What happened, how it happened, and what is our demand? At present, we are not happy with the police action. This is the result of the negligence of the policemen. I was present there when the murder happened. We want the encounter of the culprits,” Harimilan declared.
Brutal attack during procession
Ram Gopal Mishra, a resident of Rehuya Mansur village in the Hardi police station area of Bahraich, was leading the Durga visarjan procession when the group came under attack. The procession was passing through the Maharajganj area, a Muslim-dominated locality when an argument broke out with Muslim youths. Under the pretence of throwing gulaal, they began raising slogans and playing loud DJ music, which quickly escalated into violence.
Stones were hurled at the devotees, prompting them to retaliate. However, instead of controlling the mob, the police reportedly lathi-charged the Hindu devotees. This move further emboldened the attackers, leading to a stampede during which bullets were also fired. Ram Gopal was singled out by the mob, tortured brutally, and ultimately killed. His nails were reportedly pulled out, and he was mercilessly beaten before succumbing to his injuries. Even after his death, the horror did not end. As mourners carried his body, stones were thrown at the funeral procession, and video footage showed bullets being fired during the chaos.
