Police detained 30 people, including the main accused Salman (who goes by one name) and booked ten….reports Asian Lite News
Violence and arson rocked Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, a day after a 22-year-old man was shot dead and four people injured during Durga Puja idol immersion, amid allegations that the clashes were stoked by inflammatory songs during the procession in Muslim-dominated areas, stone-pelting from the houses in the locality, and a bid to take down a green flag.
Irate mobs torched vehicles and shops, and blocked roads demanding justice for Gopal Mishra, who was killed on Sunday evening when gunshots fired during an idol immersion rally. The violence also sparked a political row, with the Samajwadi Party (SP) accusing the state government of losing its grip on law and order.
Police detained 30 people, including the main accused Salman (who goes by one name) and booked ten. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will meet the victim’s family in Lucknow on Tuesday, BJP MLA Sureshwar Singh said. Hardi SHO SK Verma and Mahsi out post in-charge Shiv Kumar were suspended in the aftermath of the violence.
“In Mahasi’s Maharajganj area, a procession was passing by a masjid through a Muslim area. The groups argued on some issues. A person from the Hindu community died after bullets were fired on him and thereafter a tense situation arose,” said superintendent of police (SP) of Bahraich, Vrinda Shukla.
“The situation is being brought under control and anti-social elements are being chased away,” she added.
The government called for calm. “All culprits would be given strict punishment and victims would get complete justice,” said deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
But the Opposition blamed the authorities. “When the procession was being taken out, the administration should have ensured ample security arrangements on the route. Also, it should have been checked what was being played (on loudspeakers). Was it insulting anyone? The entire responsibility was of the administration and its failure led to the violence,” said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
The violence began around 4pm on Sunday, when an idol visarjan procession of a 22-year-old puja reached the Muslim-dominated area of Maharajganj, roughly 130km from Lucknow.
Mohammad Afzal, the husband of Maharajganj village head Afroz (who goes by one name),said that a dispute broke out over loud and communally offensive pop songs being played by the procession triggered a dispute; one person allegedly climbed on to the roof of a building to take down a green flag and hoist a saffron one, he added. Videos purportedly capturing the incidents went viral on social media.
“The Muslim side objected to certain songs being played in the procession, after which the songs were changed. However, some people climbed the house of a village resident, Abdul Hameed, and removed the green flag and waved a saffron flag, after which all the ruckus started. I cannot say who opened fire,” Afzal said.
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