Communal tensions erupted in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh on October 13 leading to violent clashes during the Goddess 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 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.
According to the media reports, the violence broke out on Sunday evening when the murti of Goddess Durga procession, heading towards Gauriya Ghat for visarjan, passed a mosque in the Maharajganj. 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 presently receiving treatment at the hospital.
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.
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