In an incident that has sent shockwaves across the country, a 22-year-old Hindu man, Ram Gopal Mishra, was brutally murdered in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich on October 13. The violence erupted during a Durga Visarjan procession, when a peaceful group of Hindus were attacked by an Islamist mob as they crossed near a mosque with a DJ playing devotional music.
According to eyewitness accounts, the mob began pelting stones at the Hindu procession, sparking chaos and retaliation. As tensions escalated, the Muslim mob reportedly launched a violent counterattack. Amidst the mayhem, Ram Gopal Mishra was singled out, dragged away, and subjected to an inhumane assault. In a shocking act of brutality, the attackers shot him over 15 times, pulled out his nails with pliers, and inflicted severe injuries, ultimately killing him.
The Uttar Pradesh Police have made multiple arrests in connection with the incident. Those apprehended include individuals accused of directly participating in the murder of Ram Gopal Mishra, as well as those involved in the attack on the Hindu procession and the widespread vandalism that left many others injured.
Now, allegations have surfaced that announcements were made from mosques, urging people to attack the Hindu procession, further intensifying the situation.
According to Sudhakar Tiwari, who was also attacked alongside Ram Gopal, the violence began after tensions flared between Hindus and Muslims during the procession. Tiwari, speaking to the media, confirmed that individuals from a nearby mosque were instrumental in initiating the attack. “We were attacked by people who came from the mosque. The violence was planned, and it was brutal,” he stated.
Eyewitnesses Vinod Mishra and Satyavan Mishra, who were present at the scene, provided further chilling details of the events leading to the violence. Speaking to AajTak, the duo, who were part of the Durga Visarjan procession, described how the peaceful celebration quickly turned into a scene of chaos. “We were right behind the DJ when the violence started. Stones were being hurled at us, and we could hear announcements from the mosque instructing people to attack the Hindus,” they recalled. The brothers confirmed that the attackers seemed well-prepared, armed with swords and sticks.
The Mishra brothers revealed that the conflict escalated when members of Abdul Hamid’s family objected to a song being played on the DJ. “They found the song offensive and demanded we stop playing it. When we refused, they started abusing us. They slapped the DJ operator and pulled out the wire, cutting the music. After that, they attacked the idol of Maa Durga, breaking it in front of us,” Vinod Mishra explained. This desecration of the murti, coupled with the violence, ignited the fury among the Hindus in the procession.
During the attack, Vinod Mishra sustained severe injuries, including a head wound and a broken hand, while his brother, who is 90 per cent disabled, was also critically hurt. The injured brothers described the terror that gripped the streets as announcements from the mosque called for violent action: “We heard them shout, ‘Jo dikhe usey kaat do’ [Slaughter whoever you see], and that’s when things took a deadly turn. Muslim mobs poured out onto the streets with weapons, ready to strike.”
As the violence intensified, Ram Gopal Mishra found himself surrounded by the attackers. According to Vinod and Satyavan, a group of people attempted to enter Abdul Hamid’s house to rescue Ram Gopal, but the stone pelting continued relentlessly. Despite their efforts, the mob overwhelmed them, and Ram Gopal was killed in the chaos. His post-mortem report later revealed the extent of the brutality he faced, confirming multiple injuries from sharp objects and blunt force trauma.
The tragic loss of Ram Gopal Mishra has left the town in mourning, and his family, devastated by his untimely death, is demanding justice. “He was just trying to defend himself. They didn’t spare him,” said a grieving relative.
The violence has sparked fears of further unrest in Bahraich. Today, as the town marked the first Friday since the violent outbreak, the security presence was significantly heightened. Barricades were placed at various points across the district, and authorities have prohibited the entry of outsiders to prevent further escalations. Police officers are patrolling the streets, and everyone entering or exiting the town is being thoroughly questioned.
Tensions remain high, and the administration is working to maintain peace in the aftermath of the violence. However, the community continues to reel from the shock of the events, especially with growing concerns that the attack was premeditated and incited through mosque announcements. For many, the violence in Bahraich has left deep scars, with the murder of Ram Gopal Mishra serving as a painful reminder of the simmering tensions that remain unresolved.
