Lagatar24 Desk
Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh: Tension escalated in Bahraich today, following communal clashes that broke out during a Durga idol immersion ceremony, resulting in the death of one person. Violence erupted in the Mahrajganj area of Mansoor village on Sunday evening, leading to the burning of shops and groups of men, armed with sticks and iron rods, roaming the streets. The police have detained around 30 individuals in connection with the unrest, and flag marches have been conducted to restore order.
Senior officials, including Home Secretary Sanjeev Gupta and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash, have arrived on the scene to assess the situation. “The situation is being brought under control and anti-social elements are being dealt with,” Vrinda Shukla, a senior local police officer, told the Press Trust of India.
Clashes Sparked by Loudspeaker Dispute
The violence reportedly began after a disagreement over the loudspeaker music during the Durga idol immersion procession. The situation escalated into stone pelting and gunfire, injuring six people. A local resident, Ram Gopal Mishra, sustained gunshot wounds and later died during treatment at the hospital. His family initially refused to perform the last rites, holding a sit-in protest, but agreed to proceed after police and administration officials assured them of action.
Action Demanded by Family and Political Leaders
Sureshwar Singh, the BJP MLA from Mahsi, confirmed that the last rites were underway, while noting that Mishra had been married just four months ago. The family has demanded that those responsible for the violence be held accountable and that senior police officers in charge of the local outpost be suspended.
The police have registered a case against a man identified as Salman, from whose house the shots were allegedly fired.
Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to urge Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister to take swift action in addressing the situation. “The news of violence in Bahraich, and the administration’s inaction, is extremely sad and unfortunate… I appeal to the Chief Minister to take immediate steps to stop the violence and ensure justice,” her post read.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also addressed the issue, warning against any attempts to disrupt peace in Uttar Pradesh. “Any conspiracy to disturb the peace and harmony of Uttar Pradesh will not succeed,” he stated in a post on X, emphasizing the importance of remaining vigilant.
